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The Jets are still waiting to get their first true in-game evaluation of rookie quarterback Geno Smith.

(Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-Ledger)

This is the week when rookie Geno Smith could win the Jets’ starting quarterback job.

Smith on Wednesday worked with the first-team offense for the third consecutive day. His opponent in the quarterback competition, Mark Sanchez, said he expects Smith to start Saturday night against the Giants, but Sanchez said the coaches haven’t decided.

“I’ve got to be ready to play,” Sanchez said. “That’s all I’ve been told. No matter what happens, I’ll be ready to play.”

Smith sprained his right ankle in the Aug. 9 preseason opener at Detroit and hobbled through much of last week’s practices. The Jets held him out of Saturday’s game against Jacksonville for precautionary reasons.

Jets coach Rex Ryan usually tells the quarterbacks who will start in the morning a couple days before the game. Smith said it matters to him if Ryan calls his name this week.

“It does matter,” Smith said. “If I get a chance to play or a chance to start, it’s going to be big for me. I’ve been working extremely hard and I just want to go out and play well. I’m extremely excited, especially since I didn’t get to play last week.”

Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg is still waiting to get his first true in-game evaluation of Smith, who played 14 snaps at Detroit before getting hurt. His three and a half drives comprised four, three, three and four plays. He completed 6 of 7 passes for 47 yards, with a long of 15. But the ankle sprain marred his debut.

Sanchez said he thinks Smith is getting all the first-team reps this week because Sanchez got the bulk of the action with the starters last week, and then played three quarters of the Jacksonville game. Ryan was coy when asked why Smith has worked exclusively with the first team this week.

“I think that was what we went with, and so be it,” he told reporters. “What do you want to me to say? Yeah, we did it. So what? I don’t know. You guys figure it out.”

It’s not difficult to figure out that the Jets want to get a serious look at Smith this week and on Saturday against the Giants. On Sunday, the Jets will be two weeks away from their Sept. 8 opener against Tampa Bay. The quarterback competition – or at least the race to see who will start Week 1 – is nearing its end. And if Sanchez starts against Tampa Bay and struggles early, the competition almost certainly won’t be over.

Ryan expects Smith to play against the Giants, but isn’t ready to say if Smith will start. Can Ryan be anticipated to name a starter Thursday?

“Hey, I guess we can anticipate it,” he said. “I think that’s fair to say. But we really don’t want to put a timetable on it.”

Smith shined Wednesday while competing mostly against the second-team defense. He completed 15 of 16 passes for two touchdowns. Sanchez was 10-of-14 for a touchdown. Smith went 11 of 12 on Tuesday, when Sanchez was 4 of 7.

Smith’s performance Wednesday was a far cry from last Wednesday at training camp in Cortland, N.Y., where he threw three interceptions in team periods. Afterward, Ryan called the showing “brutal” and “Geno’s worst day.”

As for Smith’s near-perfect Wednesday, Ryan said, “It wasn’t brutal. That’s for sure. I don’t know if it was his best day. He’s had a lot of good ones. He had a great one today.”

Said Smith: “I wouldn’t say it’s my best day. I think overall, every single day I’ve been getting better. Whether it’s been a good day or a bad day, it’s about progression and that’s something I take very seriously.”

Smith said his ankle isn’t fully recovered yet, but “every single day it’s felt better.” The limp that was so pronounced last week was barely noticeable Wednesday, as he moved one step closer to the biggest night of his young professional career.

“Last week (the ankle) hurt the velocity on my throws,” he said. “I wasn’t able to step into it as much. This week, I’m able to plant that foot in the ground and explode off of it. I’m still not 100 percent, but it’s manageable and I’m only going to get better.”