Jets QB suffered broken jaw after sucker punch from teammate that led to immediate cut

It was the blow heard around the world, or at least on One Jets Drive.

Back in August 2015, New York Jets teammates Geno Smith and IK Enemkpali had one of the most memorable training camp moments of all-time.

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Enemkpali infamously sucker-punched Smith in the Jets locker room, breaking his jaw and taking the starting quarterback out for months.

Enemkpali was released immediately after the incident and Smith was as ruled out for 6 to 10 weeks. His jaw was fractured in two different places, and it was an embarrassing moment in Gang Green history.

Smith was the incumbent starter heading into the season. But with a broken jaw, it was Ryan Fitzpatrick who replaced him while he recovered.

Fitzpatrick started the year 2-0 and never looked back. Once Smith was cleared to play, it was too late, as head coach Todd Bowles decided to ride with Fitzpatrick for the rest of the year and the ensuing season.

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Enemkpali’s punch to Smith essentially ended both of their times as Jets.

“There’s really not much for me to say. What happened is what happened,” Enemkpali recalled at the time.

Smith himself has never directly commented on the incident.

The altercation between the two reportedly stemmed from Smith owing Enemkpali after he had paid for Smith to fly out to his children’s camp, but Smith never showed.

Enemkpali fronted $1,200 for Smith’s plane fare and hotel. The two had eventually agreed to split the cost, but by the time Enemkpali confronted Smith, he still hadn’t paid him back.

Insert the sucker-punch.

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Teammates recalled the altercation to ESPN in a story of excerpts.

Former Jets linebacker Trevor Reilly seemed to have a front-row seat for the entire thing.

“It had been building for a while,” Reilly said.

“I don’t think Geno was necessarily trying to stiff him, I just think it was on the very bottom of his list of things to worry about at the time. It’s one of those things where $600 isn’t that much money when you’re at that level.

“We get to training camp and IK is asking him about it. That day, he asks him. I was sitting right there; my locker was next to Geno. Geno just kind of says, ‘Just chill, man, forget about it. What are you going to do if I don’t pay you?’

“IK reaches back and clocks him — a full swing. He hit him basically with an upper cut/cross to the jaw. Geno fell into my locker and I got out of the way.

“Geno was probably hurt, but I give him credit. He wrapped up IK, grabbed him and just tried to get through it. Different guys tried to break them up.”

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Smith would regain the starting role a year later during Week 6 of the season, after Fitzpatrick struggled.

However, Smith tore his ACL the following week, ending his season and time as a New York Jet.

He signed with the New York Giants in the offseason after, and later made a name for himself with the Seattle Seahawks, before trying — and miserably failing — to resurrect the Las Vegas Raiders.

Smith looking to put difficult offseason behind him for Jets

Smith rebounded nicely from the broken jaw that threatened to end his career, and was brought back to the Jets after a down year in Sin City.

“They wrote me off, I didn’t write back though!” Smith later said.

After Justin Fields left for the Chiefs and Tyrod Taylor departed for the Packers, the Jets confirmed months ago that Smith will start against the Titans in Week 1.

He sits in a Jets QB room made up of backup Cade Klubnik, Brady Cook, and Bailey Zappe.

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Smith has endured a difficult offseason, and recently expressed regret that he disrupted the team’s “positive momentum” after being involved in a dispute with a former girlfriend.

“I really hate the fact that something I was a part of could’ve been a distraction for this team, my teammates and this organization because a lot of hard work has been put in,” said Smith.

“A lot of guys have put in a lot of work for us to be in a good spot as a team. I’m happy that I’m able to put this behind me. I’m looking forward to moving forward.”

Smith has impressed in Jets training camp, though, recently going 11 of 11 with 4 TDs in team drills.

“It’s good to see that from your starter,” head coach Aaron Glenn said. “Listen, he’s worked his butt off from the offseason going to the beginning of training camp of understanding exactly what we’re doing.”

“I’m so excited, I can’t describe how excited I am,” Smith said after rejoining the Jets this offseason.