The New York Jets are sticking with quarterback Justin Fields for their Week 8 clash against the Cincinnati Bengals, even as questions swirl around his recent performances and the team’s ongoing quarterback situation.
Glenn’s Quarterback Strategy Takes Shape
Jets head coach Aaron Glenn made headlines last week when he pulled Fields at halftime during their disappointing 13-6 defeat to Carolina. Yet that benching wasn’t meant as a long-term solution. Fields finds himself back under center Sunday, partly because his backup simply isn’t available.
Taylor’s Knee Issue Forces Jets’ Hand
Tyrod Taylor, who stepped in for Fields against the Panthers, didn’t make the trip to Cincinnati this week. His knee has been bothering him enough to limit his practice time, leaving the Jets with little choice but to roll with Fields as their starter. Undrafted rookie Brady Cook will serve as the backup – a situation that speaks volumes about where things stand.
Johnson Speaks Candidly About Team’s QB Situation
The timing couldn’t be more awkward for New York, sitting at 0-7 and searching for answers. At the NFL league meetings in New York, Jets owner Woody Johnson didn’t mince words about Fields’ role in the team’s struggles.
\”It’s tough when your quarterback has the rating that we’ve got,\” Johnson said bluntly. \”He has the talent, but something isn’t clicking. This is a situation where any head coach with a quarterback like that would see similar results. Consistency at that position is key, and that’s what we’re aiming for the rest of the season.\”
Johnson’s assessment grew even more pointed: \”If we can just complete a pass, it would look good.\”
Front Office Maintains Control Over QB Decisions
Despite his frank assessment, Johnson made clear that quarterback decisions remain in the hands of Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey. The owner won’t meddle in those choices, just as he stayed out of the way when Glenn and Mougey pursued Fields this offseason, eventually landing him with a two-year, $40 million deal that included $30 million guaranteed.
Practice Reps Split Between Quarterbacks
Glenn kept everyone guessing this week by avoiding any definitive starter announcement. Both Fields and Taylor split practice repetitions, though Taylor’s limited work stemmed from his knee problem rather than any genuine competition for the job.
Fields’ Numbers Tell a Troubling Story
The stats paint a grim picture of Fields’ recent outings. Over his last two starts, he’s managed just 15 completions on 29 attempts – a meager 51.7% completion rate – for only 91 yards. He’s been dropped 12 times behind a struggling offensive line. The low point came in Week 6 against Denver in London, when the Jets posted negative-10 net passing yards.
When Taylor took over in the Carolina game, he didn’t fare much better, going 10-for-22 for 126 yards while tossing two picks. The Jets haven’t scored a touchdown in their past two games and currently own the NFL’s most anemic passing attack, averaging a paltry 143.4 yards per game through the air.
