NFL notebook: Bowles declines to say Geno still No. 2 on Jets’ QB chart

Todd Bowles declines to say whether Geno Smith remains the New York Jets’ No. 2 quarterback behind Ryan Fitzpatrick or if Bryce Petty has surpassed him on the depth chart.

The Jets coach said earlier in training camp there was no change in the pecking order, but Petty had a strong showing in New York’s 22-18 loss at Washington on Friday night. Meanwhile, Smith struggled in the game and appeared to perhaps lose his stranglehold on the backup job.

Against Redskins backups and playing with the second-team offense, Smith was 6 of 13 for 47 yards and an interception. With mostly third-stringers in, Petty was 16 of 26 for 242 yards and two touchdowns.

Bowles says Sunday that he has a plan for the quarterback rotation for the Jets’ third preseason game against the Giants on Saturday night, but would not reveal it.

Dolphins’ Pouncey might miss opener because of hip injury

Dolphins center Mike Pouncey has been sidelined by a left hip injury that could force him to miss the season opener.

Pouncey was hurt in Friday’s exhibition game at Dallas, and he’ll likely sit out the final two exhibition games, coach Adam Gase said.

“We’re still kind of feeling out what’s going on,” Gase said. “We need to keep evaluating. We’re working with the doctors and trying to make sure when he comes back, he’s ready to go.”

It’s possible Pouncey will miss the opener Sept. 11 at Seattle, Gase said.

“If things change for us or if we get some kind of diagnosis where they tell us it’s a longer period time than we originally thought, it could happen,” Gase said.

Pouncey, a Pro Bowl player each of the past three years, has a history of hip trouble. He required surgery on his right hip during the offseason and missed some of the team’s offseason program, and missed the first four games of the 2014 season because of an injury to his right hip.

The injury further unsettles Miami’s offensive line, where the starting guards have yet to be determined. Anthony Steen, an undrafted free agent who has yet to play in a regular season NFL game, is expected to start at center in Thursday’s exhibition game against Atlanta.

“You’re giving everybody a shot, and he has come out there in training camp and really caught our eye a little bit as far as doing everything right,” Gase said. “He’s been strong as far as at the point of attack.”

Rookie running back Kenyan Drake, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury, will again be out this week, Gase said.

Mathieu, Bethel, Rucker back at practice for Cardinals

Tyrann Mathieu, Justin Bethel and Frostee Rucker practiced for the first time this training camp and Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said “there’s no doubt” all three will be ready for the Sept. 11 season opener.

Mathieu, an All-Pro safety last season, is coming back from surgery to repair a torn ACL. The cornerback Bethel is returning from foot surgery and defensive lineman Rucker had a foot injury that may have been related to offseason ankle surgery.

Arians also welcomed back wide receiver John Brown, out with a concussion since early in camp.

And the coach said outside linebacker Alex Okafor had decided to keep playing despite a torn biceps tendon rather than opt for surgery.