The Jets suffered a huge loss today in training camp after starting quarterback Geno Smith had his jaw broken by defensive lineman IK Enemkpali, who was immediately released from the team. According to reports Enemkpali “cold-cocked” Smith in the locker room, and Smith is expected to miss 6-10 weeks.
HC Todd Bowles: QB Geno Smith out 6-10 weeks with a broken jaw that will require surgery.
— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 11, 2015
Here are three things to know about Enemkpali, a player who is now well-known for very bad reasons.
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Enemkpali has been arrested before: He appears to have a history of violent behavior. He was "arrested in April of 2011 for disturbing the peace and battery of a police officer following an off-campus incident," according to his NFL.com draft profile.
He has a crazy name: This man’s full name is Ikemefuna Chendum Enemkpali, and he is a 24-year-old from Pflugerville, Texas.
Jets coach Todd Bowles referred to the lead-up to Smith being punched as “childish” and said the team will not tolerate fighting in camp.
"There was an altercation in the locker room [Tuesday morning]. It had nothing to do with football. It was something very childish. And he got cold-cocked, sucker-punched, whatever you want to call it, in the jaw. He has a broken jaw, fractured jaw, requires some surgery. The team knows it's something we don't tolerate, something we can't stand. You don't walk up to another man and punch him in the face. It's something you don't tolerate. When you have a team and you have a bunch of side issues, you can't tolerate that.
"It was something very childish that sixth-graders could've talked about. It had no reason to happen. I told them I wouldn't say anything about it [the reason for the altercation], so I'll keep it there."
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Enemkpali stood out at Louisiana Tech: Enemkpali was a late-round flier for the Jets in the sixth round of the 2014 draft, but he piled up 17.5 sacks in four years at Louisiana Tech, and was All-Conference as a junior and a senior. 2014 Rookie of the Year Sheldon Richardson is going to be suspended for at least four games this season, so it’s possible that Enemkpali might have figured into their defensive line rotation this year.
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