The New York Jets’ quarterback picture shifted quickly during last week’s preparation, with practice participation clarifying the path to Sunday. Reporting indicates Tyrod Taylor and Justin Fields both missed practice sessions on Wednesday and Thursday, leaving undrafted rookie Brady Cook as the only active quarterback taking first-team reps while listed as a full participant despite an ankle designation.
As the week progressed, the signs pointed toward Cook starting against Jacksonville, with New York adding Adrian Martinez to the practice squad to serve as the likely backup. Cook ended up starting in Week 15 and will get another start in Week 16 against the New Orleans Saints.
Why Are Tyrod Taylor and Justin Fields Not Playing?
Both Fields and Taylor were injured last week, and Cook got his first NFL start. However, the Jets lost 48-20 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The rookie quarterback threw for 176 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions, but the team decided to stick with him for this week.
Tyrod Taylor will serve as the backup quarterback behind Cook for the game against the Saints, while Fields is inactive due to his injury.
The Jets are 3-11 on the season, and the rest of the season is about evaluating the players they have. New York already knows what Fields and Taylor are capable of which is why Cook got another opportunity to make a name for himself.
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“I have all the confidence in the world,” Aaron Glenn said of Cook last week. “That’s something I’ve stated, you know, from the very beginning. He’ll be a good player in this league. And he’ll have his opportunity again this week.”
“Every quarterback, and I think every one of them do, should prepare like they’re a starter because you just don’t know when it’s going to happen, when you have to get in and be able to lead a group of men to score touchdowns,” Glenn continued. “He’s had a hell of a week. We still have more work to do, but I’m looking forward to how he finishes this week off.”
According to PFSN’s Analytics, the Jets currently have a 4.9% chance to land the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and a 60.8% chance to secure a top-five pick. As a result, winning is no longer important for them, and the team will be making bold decisions for the rest of the season to evaluate all the current players.
New York Jets’ Stats and Insights for Week 16
Team: The New York Jets have lost an NFL-high 38 games by at least ten points since 2020. This season, the Jets have lost six games by double digits, behind only the Titans and the Raiders
QB: In the last ten seasons, the Jets have had 179 touchdown passes, the lowest in the NFL. Carolina is the next lowest with 189 passes. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lead with 326 pass touchdowns since the 2016 season.
Offense: New York leads the NFL with 149 points scored in the fourth quarter. The Jets have scored 186 total points in the first three quarters this season. That ranks second lowest, trailing only the Las Vegas Raiders.
Defense: The Jets have been tied or leading after the first quarter in seven of the 14 games. New York has the worst turnover margin (-17) and fourth-worst point differential (-121) in the second quarter.
Fantasy: Breece Hall doesn’t have a 15+ yard touch in three straight games and has one touchdown over his past five games. His talent is fantasy-worthy, but his situation isn’t close.
