Tyrod Taylor Offers Insights to Jackson Dart
Tyrod Taylor, the Jets quarterback, understands the challenges that come with being a two-way quarterback. He’s observed Jackson Dart navigating when to take risks and when to sidestep potential hits.
During Monday night’s game against the Patriots, Taylor caught sight of Dart warming up on the sidelines and was asked if he had any tips for him. “I never want to take away what makes a man special,” he commented. “That was a legitimate hit. My advice is to be smart about it. Over time, those hits can really add up. Your greatest weapon is your ability to respond, so you want to stay a step ahead and make plays. Do what feels natural, but be aware of the toll those hits can take.”
Now, Taylor is in his 15th season in the NFL and has felt the impact of injuries caused by batted balls. He mentioned that figuring out when to evade a hit takes time. “I had to learn it myself,” Taylor said. With 2,424 career rushing yards and 20 touchdowns, he added, “As a dual-threat player, I’ve definitely absorbed hits I shouldn’t have. There’s a learning curve here, but I hope he picks it up quickly because he’s a unique talent. The team obviously benefits when he’s on the field.”
On the defensive front, the Jets have shown some improvement in reducing points allowed recently, yet they struggled against the Falcons, permitting 142 rushing yards to Bijan Robinson. It raises questions about whether it was mismanagement against a top-tier running back or if deeper problems persist in the defense.
“We’ve got to step it up. We know Bijan’s talented, but giving up over 140 yards to one player is not acceptable,” Coach Aaron Glenn remarked. “We’ve gone back to analyze the issues. There were numerous missed tackles, mainly because we were diving instead of engaging properly. We need to be better in that area, and we will be.”
Additionally, Coach Glenn announced that centerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. (hip) and linebacker Marcelino McCrary Ball (hamstring) won’t participate in Sunday’s game against the Dolphins. Other players who missed Wednesday’s practice include S Tony Adams (groin), DE Jermaine Johnson (ankle), DT Harrison Phillips (veteran day off), and CB Quantez Stigers (concussion). DE Will McDonald IV (ankle) is at his limit. On a positive note, LB Cam Jones has been activated from injured reserve.
