Jets Q&A: What happened to Spencer Long?  

With all of Spencer Long’s snapping issues, why didn’t Todd Bowles take him out of the game sooner?

Bowles said he never considered doing that. He said it wasn’t a performance issue that led to Long’s removal on the Jets’ next-to-last series; it was because Long had aggravated an injury to his right middle finger that has been hampering him all season. Bowles replaced him with Jonotthan Harrison.

Yet Long seemed to be having trouble snapping for much of the game, with numerous high and low snaps. The play in which Sam Darnold threw a pick-6 began with a high snap. But Darnold didn’t blame Long, and neither did Bowles.

“We were fine,” Bowles said. “We didn’t play well on offense, period. This is not the thing. We didn’t execute anything.”   

How was Long after the game?

He was extremely frustrated, naturally, and unsure about his status for next week.

Long said he reinjured his finger on the drive before he was taken out. These snapping issues have been happening all season, but this was his worst game. Long got a little testy when a reporter asked him about it continuing to happen.

As for whether he believes he will feel better and be able to play next week, Long said, “I’m going to try my best. I’ve been trying for the last three weeks. This game’s tough. I’ve been trying to battle through and do what’s best for the team.

“It’s pretty frustrating. This is my career. I take a lot of pride in this. It hasn’t been going the way I want it to lately. It’s frustrating.”   

Did Bowles consider taking out Darnold and putting in Josh McCown for a spark or to change things up?

Bowles said he didn’t despite the worst game of Darnold’s career, but he left the door open a little. “Not right now, no,” he said.

Darnold threw four interceptions, including three in the fourth quarter, giving him a league-high 14. Everyone in the locker room said they remain confident in him.

“I don’t think he regressed,” Bowles said. “He’s going to have some bad throws and just can’t turn it over.”   

What was Jermaine Kearse doing when he caught a pass while standing out of bounds on the final drive?

The receiver messed up, and he acknowledged it.

It was second-and-10 at the Jets’ 47 with about 50 seconds left. Kearse was open on the left sideline but was out of bounds when Darnold delivered the ball to him. Kearse said he lost track of where he was.

“It’s definitely frustrating. especially the one out of bounds,” he said. “That’s just bad football by me. It’s just bad.”  

What happened to the Jets’ running game?

It’s been nonexistent for three weeks. They did rush for 80 yards, but the Dolphins had allowed 164, 248 and 188 yards the previous three weeks. They’ve given up more than 100 rushing yards in every game but the two against the Jets.

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.