NEW YORK — New York Jets Coach Todd Bowles said he decided about two to three weeks ago to play Bryce Petty at quarterback for the final four games to get an extended look at the second-year player.

Bowles announced Monday night after the 41-10 loss to the Indianapolis Colts that Petty would start the rest of the season, sending Ryan Fitzpatrick to the sideline.

Bowles said Tuesday that Fitzpatrick will serve as Petty’s backup for at least the next few weeks.

He also said rookie Christian Hackenberg, a second-round pick, likely won’t see any game action this season, barring an injury to Petty.

Bowles acknowledged that he never directly told Fitzpatrick of the decision after he “got tied up with a few things.”

The two will talk Wednesday, said Bowles, who added he could have handled it better.

n New York waived running back/kick returner C.J. Spiller and wide receiver/kick returner Jeremy Ross.

VIKINGS: Coach Mike Zimmer was back at practice, not quite a week after surgery to repair a detached retina.

“He still can see everything, with one patch over his eye. He still knows,” cornerback Captain Munnerlyn said. “You make a mistake, he’s still seen it.”

“Eye patch or no eye patch,” wide receiver Stefon Diggs said, “he’s still the same coach.”

COLTS: Linebacker D’Qwell Jackson was suspended for four games for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.

Jackson will be eligible to return to the active roster Jan. 2, a day after the regular-season finale against Jacksonville.

BUCCANEERS: Tampa Bay bolstered its injury-depleted receiving group, promoting Josh Huff from the practice squad to the active roster and placing Cecil Shorts III on injured reserve.

Huff, 25, is getting a second chance in the NFL after being released by Philadelphia in the aftermath of Huff’s arrest on gun and drug charges last month.

49ERS: Quarterback Colin Kaepernick is keeping his starting job after getting benched during one of the worst performances of his career.

Kaepernick will start Sunday when San Francisco (1-11) meets the Jets (3-9). Kaepernick completed one pass in three quarters Sunday in a 26-6 loss at Chicago.

LIONS: Detroit signed running back Joique Bell for a second stint with the franchise.

Bell played 60 games for the Lions from 2012-15. He rushed for 860 yards and seven touchdowns during the 2014 season.

PACKERS: Defensive tackle Mike Pennel was suspended for the last four games of the regular season for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy after serving a four-game ban to start the year.

Pennel will be eligible to return if the Packers (6-6) make the playoffs.

GIANTS: After failing to be targeted once against Pittsburgh, receiver Victor Cruz had a talk with rookie coach Ben McAdoo.

Cruz said the conversation was an honest exchange between the coach and the 30-year-old veteran who is playing again this season after missing all but six games the past two years with knee and calf injuries.