FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — New York Jets coach Aaron Glenn has benched beginning quarterback Justin Fields in favor of longtime backup Tyrod Taylor.
Taylor, 36, will begin Sunday towards the Baltimore Ravens, the workforce that drafted him in 2011.
Glenn knowledgeable the workforce of the quarterback change of their Monday assembly, after they reconvened after their mini bye.
“It stinks to be part of the [demotion],” stated tight finish Jeremy Ruckert, who performed with Fields at Ohio State. “I take it private, all of the hate, all of the speaking that goes in direction of him. I take it private. I am one of many guys that takes the sphere with him, and I want we may’ve completed a greater job to assist him out, however he is only a true skilled.”
The transfer comes as no shock, as Glenn indicated final Friday that he was “evaluating every little thing” — his first acknowledgement of a doable change.
Fields handed for under 116 yards within the Jets’ 27-14 loss to the New England Patriots final Thursday, persevering with a season of profound struggles. The Jets’ passing assault is ranked thirty second in yards per sport (139.9), with Fields having produced solely 505 yards in his previous 5 begins.
Fields is underneath contract by means of 2026 after signing a two-year, $40 million contract in March, however his future with the Jets is up within the air. They virtually actually could have a brand new starter in 2026, both a veteran or a rookie.
Fields is because of make $20 million in 2026, together with $10 million assured. His cap cost is $23 million.
With a 2-8 document, the Jets at present maintain the fifth place within the 2026 draft. They personal two first-round picks in 2026, plus one other three in 2027, because of the current Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams trades. In principle, it must be sufficient draft capital to commerce up for a quarterback.
The Jets signed Fields, giving him a $30 million assure, as a result of they felt he had untapped potential, and that he may doubtlessly develop right into a stable starter regardless of his spotty observe document with the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers.
It hasn’t occurred.
Fields ranks thirtieth out of 33 certified passers in Complete QBR (37.7), with solely seven landing passes, 1,259 passing yards and one interception. He is the second-leading rusher on the Jets, with 383 yards and a team-high 4 speeding touchdowns.
The benching virtually occurred just a few weeks in the past.
Fields was changed at halftime in a Week 7 loss to the Carolina Panthers, and Glenn was leaning towards Taylor as his new starter, sources stated. However Taylor was scratched on the eve of the Week 8 sport towards the Cincinnati Bengals resulting from a lingering knee harm, leaving Glenn no selection however to stick with Fields.
And Fields performed his finest sport of the season, only some days after he was publicly criticized by proprietor Woody Johnson. The workforce rallied round Fields, and the consequence was the workforce’s finest offensive efficiency in years — 502 complete yards.
He adopted that up with a 51-yard passing efficiency towards the Cleveland Browns, however he acquired a reprieve as a result of the Jets gained. Then got here the clunker towards the Patriots.
“Clearly, we now have to do a greater job within the passing sport, and that has loads to do with Justin getting the ball to the fitting guys,” Glenn stated Friday.
So as soon as once more, the Jets have a muddled quarterback state of affairs. Except for final season, when Aaron Rodgers began each sport, they’ve been undermined by quarterback instability. From 2021 to 2023, they began three completely different quarterbacks in every season, together with 4 in 2023 — the yr Rodgers tore an Achilles in Week 1.
Taylor has began one sport this season — a Week 3 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, when Fields was out with a concussion. Taylor threw two touchdowns and an interception in almost rallying the Jets to a come-from-behind win.
His document as a starter is 28-29-1.
