Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick undergoing thumb surgery, may not miss a game

Don’t worry, Jets fans, this was the plan all along.

New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick will undergo surgery on Friday to repair a torn ligament in the thumb on his non-throwing hand (left). The team isn’t ruling out the possibility that he won’t miss a game.

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“It’s my understanding that it’s possible he will be (ready), yes,” Jets coach Todd Bowles told reporters after Fitzpatrick completed fewer than 50 percent of his passes (15-of-34) and threw two interceptions against a pair of touchdowns in Thursday night’s 22-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium.

Fitzpatrick suffered the thumb injury on the opening drive of New York’s Week 8 loss to the Oakland Raiders, but returned the following week with padding on his left thumb to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars. Earlier in the week, Fitzpatrick told reporters the thumb would require surgery, but wouldn’t let the media in on whether that would come now or after the season, although he did drop several hints it was coming Friday.

“From my understanding, it gets a little more complicated the longer you wait,” Fitzpatrick told the New York media on Monday. The ligament changes over time the longer you wait when it tears. It shrivels up or shrinks, and that’s what makes it a little more complicated.”

Because the Jets have already enjoyed a bye week, Friday gives Fitzpatrick the most time to heal, since he won’t have to suit up again for another 10 days, when they travel to Houston to play the Texans on Nov. 22.

“I think I would still be able to play with a brace if I did have it,” he added in his Monday media session.

Backup quarterback Geno Smith also suffered abdomen and shoulder injuries in the loss to Oakland, but he was active for Thursday night’s loss to the Bills. Presumably, he would start in Fitzpatrick’s absence.