Ryan Fitzpatrick to have thumb surgery Friday, not expected to miss time

ByOhm Youngmisuk ESPN logo
Monday, November 16, 2015

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick confirmed that he will have surgery on Friday in Manhattan to repair a torn ligament in the thumb on his non-throwing hand.

Fitzpatrick expects to be able to return and play in the Jets' next game atHoustonon Nov. 22.

"We'll see how it goes, but that's the intention," Fitzpatrick said of returning to play against his former team in Houston.

Fitzpatrick has played in two straight games with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb. Since suffering the injury in a 34-20 loss at Oakland on Nov. 1, Fitzpatrick has suited up with a brace and a protective glove on his non-throwing hand.

He completed 15 of 34 passes for 193 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions during Thursday night's 22-17 loss to Buffalo. Fitzpatrick, who also scrambled for 30 yards, has 10 days between games to heal.

Jets head coach Todd Bowles also announced that the Jets lost running back Zac Stacy to a fractured ankle. Stacy suffered the injury on a kickoff return at the end of the first half and had to be carted off the field as both teams ran into the locker rooms at halftime.

Stacy had been filling the third-down backup role to Chris Ivory while Bilal Powell was out with an ankle injury. Powell is expected back soon. Stacy carried the ball 31 times this season for 89 yards and one touchdown.

Running backStevan Ridley saw his first action of the season Thursday with three carries for minus-1 yard.