Quarterback Decisions Emerge in New York
In New York, there’s a singular focus on quarterbacks right now.
The Giants are weighing whether to go with Jackson Dirt or Russell Wilson in their upcoming game. Meanwhile, the Jets are figuring out if Justin Fields can shake off his concussion issues in time for Monday’s matchup against the Dolphins.
Fields needs to get the green light from an independent neurologist after completing the NFL’s five-stage concussion protocol. He wasn’t present for the public part of practice last Friday, which hints he’s still in the early recovery phase.
“Justin was our starter coming into this,” Coach Aaron Glenn said. “Tyrod was our backup. I really need to understand where Justin stands. I don’t want to comment further until he’s cleared.”
It makes sense to stick to the original plan, especially since Fields had a stellar 119.1 rating in his first game, but then tanked to a 39.6 in the second.
As for the Jets, they’re getting ready for a walkthrough on Wednesday. With a hefty $40 million investment in place over the past two years, they’ll need more data before considering any major adjustments, like moving the 36-year-old Taylor beyond just an emergency option.
Interestingly, the Jets are one of only three teams that haven’t recorded a takeaway this season. Harrison Phillips noted that a recent strip sack on Baker Mayfield marked their fourth forced fumble that they failed to recover in just three games.
“It’s not about lack of effort,” Phillips commented. “If you check the tape, the guys are really hustling. We just can’t seem to recover the ball. It’s funny how the ball can bounce back so unpredictably.”
So, what’s the fix?
“We’re focusing heavily on ball punching this week,” he said. “At practice, you’ll likely see running backs with bruises up and down their forearms,” which is a bit of a stark image.
Meanwhile, Coach Glenn provided no updates on linebacker Quincy Williams, who sat out the second half with a shoulder injury. His teammate, Marcelino McCrary-Ball, expressed heartfelt concern over Williams’ condition.
“He’ll be fine, but no one likes to see injuries like that,” he said cautiously, capturing the tension surrounding such incidents.
Excitingly, shortly after, Wil MacDonald IV managed to block a field goal attempt, pouncing on the loose ball and taking it back for a touchdown. He had been positioned at the edge, aiming for the block that could potentially win the game.
Special teams captain McCrary-Ball wasn’t quite sure how to explain the last-minute adjustment. “We got the call, and we went for it, just like before,” he said. “But honestly, we shouldn’t have let it come down to needing that field goal.”
