Within the wake of the Jets’ latest loss and their highly ineffective performance on offense, head coach Aaron Glenn was asked about the opportunity of a quarterback change. Justin Fields stays atop the depth chart for now, but there is just not a consensus within the organization that’s the precise move.
SNY’s Connor Hughes reports “several” people inside the locker room have expressed a position that Tyrod Taylor can be a greater option on the quarterback spot than Fields. This sentiment dates back to training camp, per Hughes. No competition for the QB1 spot took place throughout the summer, with Fields landing the QB1 gig upon signing a two-year free agent deal.
That $40MM pact accommodates $30MM fully guaranteed. Considering that level of commitment, it comes as little surprise Fields has received a vote of confidence on multiple occasion despite Recent York’s 0-6 start. When chatting with the media on Monday, Glenn said (via ESPN’s Wealthy Cimini) he didn’t think about to replacing Fields with Taylor throughout the team’s loss to the Broncos yesterday. Doing so could have helped create a quarterback controversy, something Glenn seeks to avoid.
Moving forward, it can be interesting to watch how the Jets’ quarterback setup is handled. A continuation of the team’s losing streak – especially if Fields is unable to bounce back from his 45-yard, nine-sack showing on Sunday – will little question result in a rise in calls for Taylor to take over. Pressure on that front could come from inside the organization given the contingent which might have preferred Taylor begin the 12 months atop the depth chart.
Fields, 26, offers upside along with his rushing ability and has posted 204 yards and three touchdowns on the bottom thus far in his debut Jets campaign. The previous first-rounder has also set latest personal bests in various passing categories, albeit in a way which has not lent itself to much in the best way of overall production on offense. Recent York ranks last within the NFL with a mean of 175 passing yards per game, and the team sits twenty fifth in scoring.
While Fields is under contract through 2026, Taylor is a pending free agent. The 36-year-old has made only one start thus far in his Jets profession (filling in for an injured Fields in Week 3), which dates back to last season. If not less than some within the organization had their way, though, that figure would increase.