Jets QB Geno Smith Injury: Locker Room Sucker Punch Breaks Jaw

The New York Jets woes with QB Geno Smith continue and this time the thing that did him in isn't a fumble or pick. It was the sucker punching right hand of 2014 draft pick Ikemefuna Enemkpali. Now the locker room attack will leave him out of action for 6 - 10 weeks because of a broken jaw. Apparently, the altercation between the linebacker and Smith was due to Smith not showing up after being invited to his camp in Pflugerville, Texas on July 11, 2015. A close friend of Smith passed away a few days prior, but still, Enemkapli was livid after Smith failed to pay back the money he owed for a plane ticket. Enemkapli had originally footed the bill.

Before the punch was thrown, Smith attempted to diffuse the situation after sensing tension. He apparently had every intention to pay him back, but the attack still happened. Following the hit, Enemkapli was immediately released from the Jets.

Jets Coach Todd Bowles spoke out on the incident and called the attack "childish."

"It had nothing to do with football. It was something very childish," Bowles said. "He got cold-cocked, sucker-punched, whatever you want to call it, in the jaw. He has a broken jaw, fractured jaw. The team knows it's something we don't tolerate, something we can't stand. You don't walk up to a man and punch him in the face."

This is Enamkapli's introduction to off-the-field violence in the NFL, but certainly not the first in his career. As a 19-year-old student at Louisiana Tech, the linebacker got into a fight with an off-duty cop who worked security at a bar. During the fight, Enemkapli had to be subdued with pepper spray and a stun gun. He was arrested for the attack and charged with battery on a police officer and disturbing the peace. The charge was amended to simple battery and he was placed on 13 months probation. He also had to serve 32 hours of community service as well.

After the attack on his quarterback, Enemkapli apologized. He said he let his frustrations get the best of him.

"I apologize to the Jets organization, coaches, teammates and fans," Enemkpali said. "Geno and I let our frustration get the best of us, but I should have just walked away from the situation. I deeply regret and apologize for my actions. It was never my intention to harm anyone. I appreciate the opportunity I had with the Jets."

 ILL BE BACK!

A photo posted by Geno Smith III (@genosmith7) on Aug 11, 2015 at 11:03am PDT