The Jets added insult to injury when they lost starting quarterback Justin Fields to a concussion during their Week 2 loss to the Bills, and head coach Aaron Glenn announced today that he would remain sidelined in Week 3.
Fields was replaced by 15-year veteran Tyrod Taylor, who will start in his stead on Sunday against the Buccaneers. Rookie Brady Cook would then be in line for an elevation from the practice squad as the backup, though the Jets still have plenty of time to add a more experienced signal-caller.
Fields put up an excellent performance in Week 1 against the Steelers, gashing his former team through the air (218 yards, one touchdown) and on the ground (48 yards, two touchdowns) while taking only one sack and avoiding turnovers. In Week 2, however, he completed just three of his 11 passes for 27 yards while taking two sacks and fumbling twice before exiting the game.
Taylor was more successful after taking over the offense, though he couldn’t engineer a comeback. The Jets previously expressed confidence in their veteran backup after Fields’ injury scare during training camp, but the 0-2 team’s Week 3 matchup with the undefeated Buccaneers will be a stiff challenge on both sides of the ball.
This is the first concussion of Fields’ NFL career, though he missed has multiple games with injuries in three of his four seasons. The Jets will be hoping that he can progress through concussion protocol in time for their divisional contest with the Dolphins in Week 4.
Many would argue Tyrod is the better QB. Older, but less erratic.
As long as you keep him away from the Chargers medical staff
I’d think they would pick somebody up, like Taylor Heinicke or even John Wolford. I can’t imagine they like being one injury to a 36-year old quarterback away from having to play Brady Cook.
I think it would be in their best interests to go 0-17 and have the first pick in the 2026 draft to get their QB of the future. Brady Cook may help in that respect. They need all the help they can get to finish behind the Browns, Saints, and Panthers.
The same teams fielding a squad capable of going 0-17 are the same teams that will screw up drafting at #1.
Yeah, you think staff that came from the Lions is going to try to build a culture around tanking? Let alone punting on developing young players for a year.
@mustard – thought that’s why they signed Fields.
They probably will be anyway, especially if Fields is week to week and not a candidate for the IR. Anyone else they sign to the practice squad this week will be there to get acclimated while Cook gets the elevation.
Sign Kyle Trask.
I’d say Fields week 1 performance was more due to a bad Steelers defense than anything.