Bryce Petty

When might Bryce Petty play? (AP Photo | Julio Cortez)

FLORHAM PARK -- Bryce Petty, the Jets' second-year quarterback, has never appeared in an NFL regular season game.

It is entirely possible the Jets could play him and/or rookie Christian Hackenberg this season -- to assess them for the future -- once they are eliminated from playoff contention. The Jets are currently 2-5, with an easier schedule coming.

But coach Todd Bowles on Wednesday did not rule out perhaps playing Petty and/or Hackenberg before the Jets are mathematically eliminated from playoff contention -- even if starter Ryan Fitzpatrick remains healthy.

"Ryan is our quarterback," Bowles said. "We'll deal with the future as it comes. We're not at that point. We're not even close to that point."

Bowles understands there is a bigger picture, with developing and assessing two young quarterbacks, especially because Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith (out for the year with a torn ACL) both probably won't be back with the Jets in 2017.

But Bowles said this is his big picture right now: "Trying to win some ball games and get in the playoffs."

Bowles isn't one to commit to a hypothetical scenario by saying that, no, he would not play Petty and/or Hackenberg before the Jets are out of playoff contention. So his comments Wednesday were not surprising.

But the reality is, if the Jets continue to win and technically stay in playoff contention, after a 1-5 start, Fitzpatrick probably will be playing decently enough. Which makes it unlikely Bowles would bench him for a guy who has never played.

The Jets' playoff chances remain slim, but starting a non-experienced quarterback while the team is still mathematically alive would send an odd message to a veteran locker room that is committed to winning now.

Of course, even if Fitzpatrick plays competently, the Jets don't have to lose many more games before they are knocked out of the playoff race.

There are more immediate questions about Petty and Hackenberg, too, because Bowles hasn't yet settled on a backup quarterback for Sunday's game at the Browns. Petty returned 13 days ago to full practice participation, after being sidelined by a preseason shoulder injury. If Petty looks too rusty this week in practice, Hackenberg could get the nod as the backup Sunday.

Bowles said he plans to decide on a backup for Jets-Browns in the next day or two. He said that while Petty and Hackenberg both got some first-team reps Wednesday, they did not receive equal reps overall. Bowles declined to say who got more reps. But he did say Petty is fully healthy again.

"He's throwing the ball well," Bowles said. "It's a matter of the reps and getting back into the system and flow. In training camp and preseason, he progressed pretty good. The month he was out kind of set him back a little bit. Now, he's coming back and getting in the swing of things, and is progressing pretty good. He's just got to get a lot of reps. That's all."

Darryl Slater may be reached at dslater@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DarrylSlater. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.