The New York Jets have decided to bench struggling quarterback Justin Fields in favor of Tyrod Taylor, marking a significant shift in their offensive strategy. Ravaged 2021 Though Fields’ performance was widely lauded, it was disappointing. He could do no better than 116 passing yards during the Jets’ 27-14 defeat to the New England Patriots just last week. The Jets are still all-in on trying to finally sort out their long-term answer at the game’s most important position. Further, they’re trying to figure out how to improve their league worst passing attack, which is currently averaging 139.9 yards a game.
Fields’ season has been marred by the same type of inconsistency and underperformance he’s experienced all year. Over the same span, he’s accumulated only 505 passing yards in his last five starts. This performance has ranked him 30th out of 33 qualified quarterbacks in Total QBR, with a lousy score of 37.7. He eco’d seven touchdown passes, passed for 1,259 passing yards and only threw one interception all regular season. Fields’ struggles were well chronicled, culminating in an abysmal outing against the Patriots. In his Week 7 loss to the Carolina Panthers, exactly one week prior, he was benched in the second half.
Increasing disappointment within the Jets’ organization and their irate fanbase sparked the decision to replace Fields. Owner Woody Johnson publicly criticized the team’s passing game, which contributed to Fields’ best performance of the season following those remarks. Yet for all his potential showstopping ability, Fields just hasn’t gotten it done.
Aside from his development as a passer, Fields showed himself to be an elite dual-threat quarterback. As it stands, he is the second-leading rusher on the team with 383 yards. He’s tied for the team high with four rushing touchdowns. The Jets have chosen clearly to move in a different direction in their quest to inject new life into their moribund offense.
Tyrod Taylor will return to the starting quarterback as New York tries to salvage its campaign. Taylor made his first start in Week 3 when Fields missed the game with a concussion. His experience and unique style of play might be the spark the Jets need to jolt them from mediocrity.
The fact that judging performance under a massive contract is, by nature, always more complicated makes this situation even murkier. He’s signed through 2026 on the two-year, $40 million deal he inked in March. His contract calls for him to make $20 million in 2026, with $10 million guaranteed. His cap charge is still unknown, which leaves more questions than answers about his future with the team. That uncertainty is compounded further by the fact that the Jets have two first-round picks in 2026 and three more in 2027.
The Jets have lived a weird life in the QB realm the last few years. Since 2021, they’ve had three different quarterbacks per season and in 2023 that number quickly rose to four when Aaron Rodgers went down with an Achilles injury in Week 1. This unevenness has led to their continuing plight and frustration with fans.
Teammate Jeremy Ruckert weighed in on the demotion, saying, “It sucks to be on the wrong side of being demoted. On the other hand, defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn focused on making the passing game better.
“Obviously, we have to do a better job in the passing game, and that has a lot to do with Justin getting the ball to the right guys.” – Aaron Glenn
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