The Jets’ Quarterback Dilemma
Let’s dive into the current situation with the Jets’ quarterback. Surprisingly, the most positive comment Aaron Glenn made about Justin Fields on Monday centered around his interception.
Fields’ performance against the Browns was underwhelming. He managed only two completions beyond the line of scrimmage, finishing 6-of-11 for 54 yards. Notably, 42 yards came from a screen pass that resulted in a touchdown by Breece Hall.
Glenn was vague regarding whether Fields would start Thursday’s game against the Patriots. However, he made it a point to commend Fields for attempting a deeper throw, which ultimately led to his first interception of the season—a play picked off by Browns safety Ronnie Hickman in the second quarter, which turned into a touchdown for Cleveland.
“I appreciated that he was trying to push the ball downfield in that situation,” Glenn said. “I thought Cleveland did a good job in coverage.”
It’s odd, even by Jets’ standards, that a quarterback’s highlight moment is an interception. Despite Fields’ lackluster showing, the Jets managed to defeat the Browns 27-20. It’s worth noting that Fields had just come off his best performance of the season against the Bengals prior to the bye week.
Unfortunately, he didn’t resemble the confident quarterback who had success against Cincinnati. His rhythm seemed off, and there was a noticeable hesitation to extend plays downfield. This raises the question: should the Jets consider turning to Tyrod Taylor? A question Glenn was evidently reluctant to entertain.
“Please, don’t even ask me about the quarterback situation. You know I won’t divulge that, and I’d rather not waste time discussing who’s starting,” Glenn remarked.
In recent games, Glenn has kept his cards close to his chest. Right before the Bengals game, he seemed inclined to go with Taylor, but a knee injury sidelined him. At halftime of the previous game against the Panthers, Glenn was actually on Fields’ bench.
After Fields’ solid outing in Cincinnati, it made sense for Glenn to give him another shot against the Browns. But the result was poor.
Now, with the Jets set to take on the competitive Patriots on Thursday night, switching quarterbacks mid-week seems challenging. The team won’t practice much between now and then. Taylor has the experience, which could help, but it still seems unlikely.
On the other hand, Fields might get a short leash against the Patriots. If his performance falters, it wouldn’t be surprising if Glenn pulled him at halftime. The Jets will then have extra time to prepare for the Ravens on November 23rd.
Glenn remains protective of Fields, even when the questions arise about running an offense that only saw 54 passing yards. He commented, “He only attempted 11 passes. My message to the coaches and players is this: as coaches, we aim to win. Players, too, play to win, regardless of how it looks. It might not appeal to fantasy players or the media, but the goal is the victory. This league demands you do what it takes to win, and my focus is on that.”
He added that players will find out who the starting quarterback is on Thursday, even if it’s not announced publicly. Glenn felt the offense was a bit out of sync on Sunday, partly due to two kick returns for touchdowns in the first quarter.
“I think we had some positive moments offensively,” Glenn observed. “But with two special teams returns like that, it affects our offensive play. We didn’t have enough chances—we only threw 11 passes. Sure, we need improvement in areas, but there were also some good things we did.”
