The Jets face yet another quarterback dilemma as they gear up for their matchup against the Jaguars this Sunday.
Tyrod Taylor had to exit last week’s game against the Dolphins after just six plays due to a groin injury.
His backup, Justin Fields, sat out the game with a knee issue.
This led to undrafted rookie Brady Cook stepping in for Taylor, and it looks like he might be making his first start in Jacksonville this week.
It’s just another chapter in the ongoing quarterback saga for the Jets.
Coach Aaron Glenn didn’t have any updates on Taylor or Fields’ injuries when he spoke with reporters on Monday morning, but he expects to have more information before Wednesday’s practice.
Quarterback uncertainty is one of the challenges Glenn is navigating in his first season.
“It’s tough. This job requires tough people, and sometimes decisions need to be made on the fly,” Glenn said. “We’ll talk to the players and our medical staff and decide from there. It’s not easy—I’ve never encountered anything quite like this, even when I was an assistant. We’ll see who’s actually ready.”
This ongoing quarterback drama is just part of the season’s narrative.
Fields was originally named the starter after the Jets gave him a $30 million guarantee this offseason, despite missing one game due to a concussion. Taylor had taken over as the starter temporarily.
Even when Fields returned, his impact was, well, minimal at best.
Glenn faced criticism for not benching Fields immediately after a blowout loss to the Broncos but ended up making that call at halftime of the follow-up loss to the Panthers.
While it was unclear who would start against the Bengals, many assumed it would be Taylor. However, he ended up being ruled inactive due to a knee injury, providing Fields another opportunity.
Fields put in a decent performance against the Bengals and then started two more games before Glenn switched back to Taylor.
Taylor played part of the Dolphins game, leading to Cook’s debut.
Cook started nervously but settled into the game as it progressed, even though he threw two interceptions. At that point, the Jets were already down 21-0.
“Brady did a few good things,” Glenn remarked. “It’s never easy for a backup quarterback who doesn’t get enough practice reps to hit their rhythm in a game. But I thought he commanded the offense well, given the circumstances. Still, the score made things tougher, forcing him to throw more than we’d like.”
Glenn seems determined to start the quarterback who, in his view, gives the Jets the best chance against the Jaguars.
He brushed off suggestions from reporters about trying Fields after his time on the bench.
“I’m not playing mind games here,” Glenn stated. “These guys are professionals and put in the effort every week. My goal is to position them for success, so whoever is ready will take the field.”
