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Geno Smith confirms he'll work out with Jets receivers in Chicago

NFL, New York Jets

Geno Smith may be the leader in the clubhouse to be the New York Jets' starting quarterback this season but he's not taking that position for granted.

The third-year Jets quarterback confirmed Wednesday that he will participate in pre-training camp passing workouts with new top target Brandon Marshall and his other receivers in Chicago this month to try to build chemistry with his teammates. The workouts will take place in Chicago so Marshall can be close to his newborn twins.

Smith said the workouts would take place soon but wouldn't disclose exactly when they would happen.

Smith, who was speaking to reporters from his football camp in Boonton, New Jersey, said quarterbacks Ryan Fitzpatrick and Bryce Petty are also welcome to attend but he doesn't expect them to be at the workouts.

"I'll probably be the only [quarterback] there,'' Smith said, according to the New York Post. "It's welcome to anyone who wants to come. It's not like I'm barring them from coming. If they want to they can be there too.''

Smith called Marshall, who was acquired by the Jets in an offseason trade from the Chicago Bears, "a quarterback's best friend." The quarterback and star receiver roomed together during the Jets' offseason workouts.

"He's a guy, for one, he's a veteran guy; he understands the game on and off the field; he's a beast of a player. You can't say enough good things about him," Smith said, according to the Post.

First-year coach Todd Bowles said in the offseason that the starting quarterback job was Smith's to lose. Fitzpatrick, however, is more familiar with offensive coordinator Chan Gailey's offense, having played for the coach in the past with the Buffalo Bills.

Smith said he's not worrying about losing his lead in the quarterback race. 

"I don't feel any pressure,'' Smith said, according to Newsday. "I feel like we've got a lot of room for improvement, but I love the way we're working and competing. To have guys around me that are so, so good, it takes all the pressure off of me.''

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