Geno Smith has said that the quarterback competition at the New York Jets is not over.

The rookie, who was picked in the second round of this year's Draft, will start the team's first game of the season this weekend while Mark Sanchez recovers from a shoulder injury.

The 22-year-old told reporters: "The competition, from my understanding, is still going. We're going to continue to compete. That's what practising is about, that's what being an athlete is about.

"That's the way you get better, by competing every single day. It's something I try to do. I compete with myself and try to chase perfection and it's going to continue.

"Of course you want to be the starter every single week. That's my goal. But at the same time you have to play it day by day. You've got to focus on the task at hand, which is taking care of practice, taking care of every single thing in meetings."

The Jets play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.