In a must win game on Sunday, New York Jets QB Justin Fields was brutalized all day by the vaunted Buffalo Bills defense. Unfortunately, he did sustain a concussion and has reportedly officially entered the league’s concussion protocol. With only 14 minutes left in the game, Fields was slammed down by Nick Bosa. The quarterback’s helmet slammed violently to the ground as a result of the hit. This injury puts his availability for the Bears’ week two matchup — a home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — back in serious doubt.
Fields’ performance was especially bad, especially considering it followed one of his best games as a pro. He floundered on the field, posting career lows in completions and passing yards. He converted just three of his 11 pass attempts, for a grand total of 11 yards. His struggles were apparent as he only attempted one completion to a wide receiver all game. The quarterback’s inability to connect with his targets effectively hampered the Jets’ offensive efforts.
Post game, coach Aaron Glenn verified that, indeed, Fields has entered concussion protocol. He’ll have to pass this protocol in order to play in the next game. If he falters, Tyrod Taylor will be the new first-string quarterback. He’ll be doing it as the full-time starter, as he’ll lead the team in next Sunday’s road game.
Fields’ on-field performance raised significant concerns about the Jets’ passing attack. Combined with his quarterback rating (QBR) that fell off a cliff to a staggering 1.1, it was the worst career rating of his time under center. Analysts noted that his ball placement was almost universally inaccurate. Right from the beginning of the game, we can count at least three passes that were dangerously off target.
“The one thing we’re not going to do, we’re not going to waver, not one bit,” Glenn stated regarding the team’s commitment to improving their performance. That’s the brand that we claim that we’re going to play, we’re going to play that defensive type of game. And our guys will get better.
The Jets’ offense was clearly the biggest issue all game long and it raised questions about their gameplan and playcalling. Wide receiver Garrett Wilson expressed his disappointment, stating, “I always feel like we have a good plan. We had a good week of practice, and we come out and lay an egg when it matters, so we have to figure it out. I don’t know. I don’t exactly know how that happened.”
In the aftermath of that game, Coach Glenn called for self-evaluation from every facet of the organization, and that included Fields under the microscope. In his opening comments, he noted that figuring out how the nation ended up with such a disappointing result would be the key to going forward.
“It’s not OK, it’s not OK to lose like that,” Glenn remarked, reflecting on the team’s need to improve and regain its competitive edge.
As the Jets look ahead to their next game against the Buccaneers, everyone will be watching how Fields bounces back from his injury. The team is waiting to hear on his diagnosis and prospects for getting back into action quickly. In the meantime, Tyrod Taylor is ready to step in if needed, and he would offer a steady hand on a floundering offense.
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