Thursday marks the one-year anniversary from when Geno Smith’s life was forever altered.

On Aug. 11, 2015, Smith was in the Jets locker room when then-teammate IK Enemkpali punched Smith, breaking his jaw and costing him his starting quarterback job.

“It feels like 10 years, 20 years,” Smith said Tuesday, when asked about the one-year mark.

What led up to the punch depends on whom you ask. What has happened since then can’t be disputed. Smith, who was expected to be the Jets’ starter for the third straight season, went to the bench. Ryan Fitzpatrick seized his opportunity, leading the team to a 10-6 record, and then re-signed on the eve of training camp, pushing Smith back to the bench. Smith’s career, which had some promising moments in its first two years along with some struggles, was derailed.

Smith does not like talking about the Enemkpali situation, trying his best to move past it. He made an exception Tuesday for several reporters who wanted to get his thoughts on the anniversary. Smith said he did not realize it had been a year until a reporter told him that.

“I don’t think about it,” he said. “It was a crazy situation, a life-defining moment. It could go one of two ways – it could make you or it could break you. It hasn’t broken me. It won’t break me ever. A situation like that won’t change my demeanor or my attitude. I know who I am. I know what I can do. I’m just trusting my instincts. I know I’ll get back in there. I just have to stay focused and keep believing and working hard and when I do, I’ll be ready for it.”

The 25-year-old Smith appears to have matured over the past year. His teammates and coaches say it, and you can tell from his public comments that he has a different outlook.

Smith spent this offseason running the first team while Fitzpatrick remained unsigned. When Fitzpatrick signed the night before camp started, Smith knew it meant he was back on the bench. The next day he told reporters that he was “pissed off.” Not at anyone, but at the situation because he wants to play. Smith said Tuesday that feeling remains.

“It’s been fuel to me every day. I’m still pissed off,” Smith said. “That’s not going to change until I get back into the saddle. I do have an understanding that it’s a team game. You do have to be respectful of your coaches and your teammates and you’ve also got to support them. That’s what I’ve been doing, all the while still progressing myself.”

Smith said he has been a starter his entire football life, so sitting on the bench has been an adjustment. He leans on his friends and family for support.

“Can I sit here and say it’s not tough? Of course it’s tough,” Smith said. “Sometimes I hate it. Sometimes it sucks. But the one thing I do is I stay focused. I don’t let my circumstances dictate my attitude. I try and be the same guy no matter what. Up or down, good or bad, I try to stay level-headed.”

Smith is eager to play Thursday night in the preseason opener against the Jaguars at MetLife Stadium. Jets coach Todd Bowles has not revealed how much each quarterback will play, but Smith will probably play the majority of the first half after Fitzpatrick and the starters get a series or two. Smith only played in one game in 2015 – in Oakland after Fitzpatrick injured his left thumb.

It has been a bumpy year for Smith, who admits it took a while after the punch for him to figure out that he had to make the best of it.

“It really did take me some time to get to this level-headedness because I’m so competitive,” Smith said. “I hate the fact that I’m not able to go out there and compete with my teammates to win championships. I’ve been doing that my entire life. I’ve been leading the way my entire life. To take a step back is kind of abnormal for me. It’s still a good thing. You can still gain something from it. Every loss is not a loss, you can gain a lesson. I’ve definitely learned a lot.”