Jets' Ryan Fitzpatrick reportedly suffered sprained MCL in loss to Dolphins

Could this open the door for Bryce Petty to start?

Jets fans have been clamoring for coach Todd Bowles to let Bryce Petty start a game and that could happen this week if Ryan Fitzpatrick isn't healthy enough to play.

According to ESPN.com, Fitzpatrick sprained the MCL in his left knee during the Jets' loss to the Dolphins on Sunday. It's not a serious injury, but it could cause Fitzpatrick to miss at least one start.

The Jets quarterback was injured late in the third quarter after Dolphins defensive lineman Jordan Phillips rolled up on his knee. Fitzpatrick tried to keep playing but couldn't really move, so he took a knee before the next play started and pulled himself from the game.

Ryan Fitzpatrick was in so much pain, he had to take a knee before a play. USATSI

After New York's 27-23 loss, Bowles said he was going to stick with Fitzpatrick for next week's game, but only if his quarterback was healthy enough to play. Fitzpatrick's strained MCL might be enough to open the door for Petty to get his first NFL start.

Petty, who was selected by the Jets in the fourth-round of the 2015 NFL Draft, saw his first regular-season action against Miami after Fitzpatrick went down with his knee injury. The second-year quarterback was in the game for four snaps in the second half and led the Jets to a field goal.

Petty went 2 for 2 for 19 yards during his short stint on the field before Fitzpatrick returned.

"All things considered, I felt pretty good about things. I think last year was my awe moment, like, 'Oh my God, I'm here.' I felt really good," Petty said, via the New York Post. "The guys were smiling when I came into the huddle and they did a good job to ease the tension."

On the drive before Petty saw action in the game, Fitzpatrick threw an interception. Then on the drive after Petty was in the game, Fitzpatrick also threw an interception -- giving him an NFL-high 13 picks on the season.

Bowles might not be ready to commit to Petty yet, but don't be surprised if he eventually does. After the Jets loss to the Cardinals in Week 6, Bowles said he was going to stick with Fitzpatrick, but then reversed course and made Geno Smith the starter. Smith lasted less than one game though, after suffering a torn ACL in Week 7 against Baltimore.