Geno Smith handling demotion 'the right way'

Geno Smith has approached his demotion "the right way," according to Rex Ryan.

"I think he has prepared well. I guess time will tell once he gets an opportunity to play again," said the Jets coach, who benched Smith in favor of veteran Michael Vick last week against the Chiefs. "I don't think any player likes it. They shouldn't like it. But, I think he approached it the right way."

But Ryan wouldn't say when he plans to start Smith again.

"I am not really looking past this game," he said Monday of this week's matchup with the Steelers on Sunday at MetLife Stadium. "So, if that happens, then it happens. Right now we are going with Mike to play against Pittsburgh, and that's as far as I have thought about it.

Vick is ready to roll after clearing the league's concussion protocol. But his feet could be an issue. "If anything, he's got a foot that keeps getting stepped on," Ryan said. "So I think that's the biggest concern right now."

Bledsoe jabs Jets

Drew Bledsoe defended Mark Sanchez's career resurgence in Philly - and took a shot at the Jets in the process. "You know when they used to take the pretty young virgin up to the edge of the volcano and then just throw them in? That's kind of what it is when you play quarterback for the Jets. It just feels bad," Bledsoe, the former Patriots QB said Monday on ESPN Radio.

"Mark had to live with that for a long time, and people threw him under the bus like he was the whole reason for the demise of the Jets," said Bledsoe, who lost his starting job to Tom Brady in 2001 because of injury. "To see him be able to come on to the field in a good system, with good talent and perform well, I'm just really happy for him."

Jet stream

The Steelers have ruled out Troy Polamalu (knee sprain) and Ryan Shazier (ankle).