The Jets ruled out quarterback Justin Fields due to knee soreness, per ESPN’s Rich Cimini.
Head coach Aaron Glenn said that Fields reported the issue on Wednesday. He was a limited practice participant on Thursday, but his knee did not respond well enough to play this weekend.
Fields began the season as the Jets’ starting quarterback but was demoted to the backup job after several disappointing performances. Tyrod Taylor has started the last two games and is expected to do so for the rest of the season.
With Fields sidelined, rookie Brady Cook will back up Taylor on Sunday. He has been elevated from the practice squad for the same role twice this season but has not played a snap. The undrafted free agent out of Missouri will likely use up his third elevation on Sunday. The Jets could also clear a spot on their 53-man roster and sign Cook from the practice squad.
This is the second injury to sideline Fields this year. He missed Week 3 with a concussion, but has otherwise stayed healthy enough to play.
His performance, however, has not been up to par for a starter. He is averaging just 139.9 passing yard, the third-lowest mark among qualified starters. He has protected the ball through the air with only one pick and a league-low 0.5% interception rate, but he also fumbled the ball four times.
Fields’ tenure in New York is poised to end after a disappointing debut year. The Jets have been willing to eat a massive amount of dead cap space in the last few years and could do so again with the $10MM in guarantees remaining on Fields’ deal. He will then look for a new team, but after two attempts as a reclamation project, he may not get another chance at a starter. At a minimum, he will likely need to fight for a starting job in training camp.