Finally, Tyrod Taylor treads into the spotlight as he readies for his first start in 624 days. The New York Jets are confident their new, grizzled quarterback veteran will do the job. He’s now set to take the field with Fields recovering from a concussion. This moment is a grand return of sorts for Taylor. He’s seen his share of adversity in his career and is prepared to take command of the Jets.
Taylor has been impressive in his recent outings, directing four touchdown drives in five possessions. His overall experience as a starter is pretty formidable. He has a career record of 28-28-1 over 15 seasons. That’s not just about durability, a knock that has occasionally sidelined the often-injured Taylor in years past. Still, he is a high-profile leader within the Jets’ locker room.
Taylor’s journey has not come without obstacles. He’s sustained major injuries on the job, including multiple broken ribs, concussions, and a punctured lung. These combined illnesses led him to miss a fortune. Last summer, he needed arthroscopic knee surgery which cost him five weeks of practice. He did return to practice very recently and his role was reduced to taking very few reps while being Fields’ backup. Taylor’s work ethic has gained him the respect of his teammates and coaches.
He’s the real deal in every sense of the word – Glenn, crossed paths – as a member of Jets coaching staff. His passion, his dedication to the kids, jumps out at you. Glenn highlighted Taylor’s unassuming nature and strong camaraderie within the team, stating, “He’s not one of these locker room lawyers. He doesn’t point the finger. I’m going to go to what I like about quarterbacks: He’s not a celebrity quarterback. He’s just one of the guys.
Taylor is incredibly confident, almost cocky, about his command. Though she knows well what it requires to excel while under fire, she’s now poised for her big break. He understands the burden of being a quarterback and what that entails.
I mean, I believe too, as a quarterback, everybody’s looking at you. Taylor, in other words, “How you act when you’re up is how you really are, and how you act when you’re down and it’s not your way is who you really are.” “So I’ve never been one to, I guess, question why my time isn’t right then or right now. More than anything, it’s so that when it does eventually happen, as far as funding goes, I make the most of it.
Taylor’s most recent appearance was Jan. 7, 2024 with the New York Giants. Since then, he has gotten signed to the Jets. Last season, he transferred from North Jersey to South Jersey to better claim his destiny as his new team’s quarterback, leaving the shadow of Aaron Rodgers behind him.
As he prepares to make his own comeback, Taylor’s experience is a tremendous asset. Glenn noted, “He’s had 14 years of reps, so he’s not new to this.” This combination of experience should help him as he steps into sharing starter duties with the Jets.
Taylor’s football career, especially at the NFL level, has been a series of “what-ifs.” Through all these uncertainties, though, he’s proven to be an ever-loyal comrade. He gets on so well with players in the locker room. This ability has turned him into one of the most valued team players on the squad.
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