It was supposed to be a new beginning for the New York Jets with Aaron Glenn as the head coach and Justin Fields as the quarterback of a new era. However, through two weeks, the results haven’t matched the preceding hype. Not only was Fields’ production up and down, but the supposedly stellar defense also didn’t show its excellence through two games.
To make matters worse, the 0-2 team also has to work without their newly signed prize offseason acquisition at the most important position in the sport. In his place, the Jets are expecting Tyrod Taylor to stand behind center. But what caused the former first-round pick to miss their Week 3 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
How Did Tyrod Taylor Replace Justin Fields as the Starter?
A sixth-round pick in the 2011 NFL draft, Taylor has a wealth of experience under his belt, albeit exclusively in short doses. Starting off as a backup to Joe Flacco for the Baltimore Ravens, he was a part of the roster that won Super Bowl 47.
At the end of his rookie contract, he signed with the Buffalo Bills and immediately led them to the playoffs as the starting quarterback, earning a Pro Bowl selection for his work. However, he was eventually traded to the Cleveland Browns, with Josh Allen replacing him in Buffalo.
His time with the Browns began a brutal streak for the veteran quarterback as he earned the starting spot at four consecutive locations before losing them to rookies due to injuries. These teams included the Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans, and New York Giants.
Last offseason, he signed a two-year deal with New York to presumably serve as Aaron Rodgers’s backup. However, with his tenure ending after that year, Taylor assumed the responsibilities behind Fields.
It didn’t take long for Taylor to get some reps, though, as Fields was concussed during the fourth quarter of their Week 2 game against the Buffalo Bills. Coming in, Taylor immediately connected on seven of his 11 passing attempts, recording 56 yards and the sole Jets touchdown of the day.
Going up against a 2-0 Buccaneers team, the task in front of New York is a tough one as they try to register their first win of a new season. And it’s going to take a turn-back-the-clock game from Taylor to make that a reality.
What This Year Means for Fields
A first-round pick in 2021 for the Chicago Bears, Fields was brought in off of incredible promise as a dual-threat quarterback in the same mold as Lamar Jackson. However, two seasons with Chicago weren’t enough for the youngster to prove himself.
As a result, the Bears chose to move off of him in favor of Caleb Williams, and Fields was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers. A solid start through six weeks gave some hope of a career revival, but he spent the rest of the year playing second fiddle to Russell Wilson.
On March 13, 2025, Fields chose to sign with New York on a two-year deal worth $40 million in what many believe is his final opportunity to prove himself in the NFL. However, his performances over the past two weeks have been mixed, leaving fans with a plethora of questions.
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Despite the 0-2 start, the Ohio State product had an excellent first week, when he threw for 218 yards and a touchdown on just 22 attempts, while adding 48 yards and two touchdowns on the ground in 12 carries.
However, his Week 2 performance was disappointing, as he completed just three of his 11 passing attempts for 27 yards and 49 rushing yards on five carries. Ultimately, he came out of the game with over 12 minutes left in the fourth quarter.
With concussion recovery time varying from player to player, it is unclear how long Fields will be out for. But with the diagnosis being the first concussion of his career, there is a possibility that he could be back as soon as Week 4 against the Miami Dolphins.
Upon his return, the fifth-year veteran needs to show some consistency if he wants to solidify a place for himself in the league. Otherwise, a slow start for the Jets could pave the road for the team to add a quarterback early in the 2026 NFL Draft and send Fields looking for another job elsewhere.
