The New York Jets confirmed Monday that Chad Pennington is no longer the starting quarterback. 

Pennington, 31, will be benched next Sunday in favour of Kellen Clemens, who has played five games in the NFL, when the Jets host the Washington Redskins at Giants Stadium (1 p.m. ET).

Chad Pennington is pursued by Larry Tripplett (98) in Sunday's 13-3 loss.
(Kathy Willens/Associated Press)

"I made this decision, not based on singling out Chad for where we are," Jets head coach Eric Mangini said, "but based on the fact that I think Kellen has earned this opportunity.

"I want to give him this opportunity. It is in no way an indication that Chad is solely responsible — we all are."

Pennington, the second-most accurate passer in league history behind Kurt Warner, is passing at a 67.3 per cent clip in seven starts this season, completing 128-of-190 pass attempts for 1,317 yards and nine touchdowns with seven interceptions.

Yet New York is a woeful 1-7 this season. 

"I'm disappointed and it is a frustrating time for me," Pennington said. "At the same time, it is not about me.

"It is about our team and our team moving forward and I understand that."

Pennington overcame consecutive rotator cuff surgeries to earn NFL comeback player of the year honours last season, but he struggled to put points on the board this season.

New York's offence, as a whole, ranks 30th in the NFL.

"By all medical accounts, I'm not supposed to be talking to you right now," he said. "I should not even be playing this game, so I take great pride in the fact that I have been able to overcome shoulder surgeries and play at a high level.

"[But] when your team is struggling, coaches have to look for answers and, sometimes, the first position that is looked at is the quarterback position. I understand that."

Clemens cheered

Clemens received a rousing ovation when he replaced an ineffective Pennington in Sunday's 13-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills, but completed just 5-of-12 passes for 67 yards with two interceptions.

"I'm looking forward to the chance to play," Clemens said. "At the same time, there is a losing streak right now that this entire team needs to work hard to turn around."

Clemens, 24, has completed 29-of-60 passes for 362 yards and a touchdown with four interceptions in five NFL games, including one start, since being drafted out of Oregon in the second round (49th overall) by New York in 2006.

"Going into what will be my second start, I feel a lot better, a lot more confident," he said.

Pennington, signed through 2010 and due to make $4.8 million US next season, will serve as an expensive backup.

He is a career 65.3 per cent passer as a pro, having completed 1,208-of-1,849 passes for 13,290 yards and 81 touchdowns with 53 interceptions in 69 games (60 starts) over eight NFL seasons.

Pennington was drafted 18th overall by the Jets in 2000.

With files from the Associated Press