New York Jets coach Rex Ryan said quarterback Geno Smith made no mention of a shoulder injury before being pulled after three interceptions and 12 plays Sunday in the Jets’ 43-23 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Smith apparently was injured early in the game and then aggravated the shoulder when he made a tackle on his third interception, but Ryan said he was not aware of the injury until much later. Smith was replaced by Michael Vick, who will start this week as well, and had X-rays on the shoulder after the game.

“He was saying (later) that the second or third play of the game he felt something; but, the one where he made the tackle, I think you could clearly see that it was an issue,” Ryan said. “And, at the time, he never said anything. We decided to go (with Vick), but the kid never said anything.”

Asked if Smith could have continued to play if necessary, Ryan said, “I think the harsh reality of it is he never said anything about that injury until after the game, I believe, or late in the game. … It wasn’t like anybody picked up on it. So that’s a possibility that he would have continued.”

As for the Jets’ game at Kansas City this Sunday, Smith appears set to back up Vick. After sitting out Wednesday, he was back at practice Thursday.

“He threw about 50 balls today,” Ryan said. “So, that’s really what you expect your backup quarterback to throw. So, yeah, I would expect, unless there is some kind of setback, that he would be the backup quarterback.”