NOVEMBER 19: Glenn confirmed on Wednesday that Taylor, not Fields, would start in Baltimore on Sunday.
When asked why he made the call, Glenn responded, “Because I wanted to,” per ESPN’s Rich Cimini. While he may be continuing a somewhat adversarial relationship with the New York press corps, he may also be signaling that he, not notoriously meddlesome owner Woody Johnson, made the decision to bench Fields for Taylor.
NOVEMBER 17: The Jets are making a change at quarterback. Tyrod Taylor will start over Justin Fields in Week 12 against the Ravens, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.
The Jets signed Fields, previously with the Bears and Steelers, to a two-year, $40MM contract last offseason. The former first-round pick got off to a solid start in a Week 1 loss to the Steelers, but his production has nosedived since then.
Owner Woody Johnson publicly criticized Fields’ performance after a Week 7 loss to the Panthers. Expectations were that Taylor would take over in the wake of Johnson’s scathing remarks, but a knee injury temporarily prevented that from happening.
At 0-7 when Johnson called out Fields, the Jets proceeded to win back-to-back games. Fields threw for 244 yards in a 39-38 victory over the Bengals. He managed just 54 in a 27-20 win over the Browns the next week, though a tremendous special teams showing helped make up for it.
Even though Fields finally strung together a couple of wins, last Thursday’s outing was enough to convince first-year head coach Aaron Glenn to go in another direction. In a 27-14 loss to the AFC East rival Patriots, Fields went 15 of 26 for 116 yards and a touchdown. As has typically been the case, the mobile Fields was more impressive on the ground, totaling 67 yards and a TD on 11 rushes.
Fields will head to the bench with a 62.7% completion rate, 1,259 yards (6.2 YPA), seven TDs, and an interception through nine games. He has added 383 more yards (5.4 per carry) and four TDs as a runner, but his 37.7 QBR ranks 30th in the NFL. The Jets are last in the league in passing and 25th in scoring.
Regardless of whether Fields plays again this year, the Jets will have to determine his future in the offseason. He’s owed a guaranteed $10MM in 2026, and releasing him would add $22MM in dead cap. They’re already on the hook for $35MM in dead money for next year after releasing Fields’ predecessor, Aaron Rodgers, last offseason.
Now that he’s taking over for Fields, Taylor will face the Ravens 14 years after he began his career with them as a 2011 sixth-round pick from Virginia Tech. The 36-year-old has appeared in games with six other teams since then. Taylor made one start earlier this year, a Week 3 loss to the Buccaneers, while filling in for an injured Fields. He has completed 62.3% of passes for 379 yards, three TDs, and three INTs in three appearances this season.
I don’t really get the point. Fields hasn’t passed well, but with no receivers, he’s their best weapon other than Hall. I don’t think 36-year old Taylor is gaining you all that much.
Because Taylor won’t take as many sacks or throw as many bad balls. NE blitzed Fields extensively because they know he can’t handle it. The only way to go is up.
It can get worse. And a couple of those bad balls were Mitchell’s fault last game.
Also at this point why are you trying to win?
Dont the fans deserve all out effort … to try and win? Draft position doesnt equal results.
As a Bears fan I can tell you I cared much more about a few draft spots than being 5-12 instead of 4-13.
True, but until this season … did it really matter?
What
the QB position is first and foremost, about decision-making. Taylor makes better choices with the football than does Fields, despite his athletic prowess.
He is far and away not their best weapon other than hall. He really is only a threat at the two yard line when they can run a QB option run where the entire opposing team has to pick between defending Hall or the outside run
Other than that he is a pure detriment to the offense. 4 games under 100 passing yards is proof enough
He has more yards from scrimmage just as a runner than anyone but Hall or Wilson and Wilson is injured. I like Taylor and like the gamble on Mitchell one day adding literally any refinement to his game, but right now Fields is the most dangerous weapon on the Jets other than Hall, even while acknowledging he’s been a problem as a passer. And I’m not sure how much old Taylor throwing to dicey weapons adds to the offense.
He logs rushing yards but puts up games with -50 net passing yards from all the sacks he takes because he holds the ball. Him breaking off lucky rushes on a broken play against the Dolphins that week for example really doesnt make him dangerous when youre seeing exactly how many drives hes killing himself and how many yards hes losing himself. Yeah hes a good rusher for a QB, and sometimes we get lucky, but who are we fooling.
I’d rather this team get used to and attempt to run an offense centered around a QB who can actually run more of the playbook to see what we have in our OC and to get everyone ramped up for the kid we inevitably draft.
Having your RB2 at QB does no one any favors. Doesnt help the OC, or anyone on offense develop anything. While the Jets were dumb enough to enter the season with that being their scheme, itd be even dumber to still keep trying it.
Neither one is the future, but at least Taylor can throw. Might as well see what the WRs can do before the season’s over. You can always go back to Fields later if you have to.
The Jets are making a strong case that a reliance on Madden ratings and rock-paper-scissors contests to determine starting QBs should be mandatory in the NFL 🙂
Time to start evaluating quarterbacks you already know what Tyrod brings to the table. Why not bring Brady Cook up off the practice squad to see what he can do
if there’s anything to be seen with Brady Cook, it can be displayed in practice.
It must be hard being a Jets fan. The Jets have to be one of the worst run teams in all of sports. They are stuck now with a QB situation tht is almost impossible to fix. Taylor is not long term answer and they are stuck financially after the Arod release and now Fields guarantees. Who were they competing with for Fields? Should have been a 1 year prove it…sign it or move on Justin. The only way they solve it is to get lucky in the draft….and they don’t have much of a history in doing well there either.
Can confirm that it is hard.
I can feel for ya!
The Cleveland Browns would like a word with you.
They do give them competition.
I don’t think it’s any harder being a Jets fan than it is to be a fan of Wylie Coyote. We all know Wylie is never going to succeed in catching the roadrunner but that isn’t actually relevant. It’s Wylie’s dedication to hatching new schemes and his persistence in pursuing his dream that inspires everyone to keep trying and not give up hope. The Jets are the Wylie Coyotes of the NFL and that isn’t a bad thing.
Wile-E Coyote actually caught the Road Runner. It just doesnt happen more than once.
The Road Runner would have to butt fumble for that to happen 🙂
No, Coyote caught him, but the Road Runner ate something from Acme that made him 30ft tall! Then the episode ends with Wile smiling into the camera … even he has his day!
Not much of an upgrade tbh
The next team he plays for should just let him be a RB
Not a great year to tank for a qb anyway! There are no QBs worth a top pick to become a franchise qb! Those that argue Manning is just look at his games. He can’t play under pressure and Jets media (as pathetic as they are) supply an immense amount of pressure. Good luck finding a franchise qb!
He might not be a #1 but Mendoza from IU looks like he could be a starting caliber pro for a QB needy team.
The Jets are a graveyard where QB’S go to die….I feel bad for the guy they draft next year. 😕
Aren’t you a Browns fan?
Whether they try to win or not, does it really matter? The last time they made it to the Bowl man just walked on the moon. Let that sink in.