New York Jets coach Rex Ryan has hinted that his decision to pick Mark Sanchez in Saturday's pre-season game against Jacksonville Jaguars was because he is proving himself the better quarterback.

Sanchez and Geno Smith have been batting all summer for the starting spot, and Ryan said that the latter's injury combined with Sanchez's training performances was the reason for his decision.

"The decision wasn't necessarily flat based on, could [Smith] start or could he not start?" ESPN quotes Ryan as saying.

"It was the fact that, sure, there's the ankle situation, but also the fact that Mark has practised extremely well. That's what led to our decision. It's not just one or the other. It's probably the combination of those two things."

"This competition is not complete. When it is, when we feel we have enough information, we'll make our decision. We're not going to get into, 'Who's ahead? Who's not?' I'll say right now, the competition is not complete. There's still time to make that decision."

Smith was drafted in the second round to provide competition for Sanchez.