The New York Jets have their starting quarterback back in the lineup.
Head coach Aaron Glenn announced during his media availability on Saturday, September 27, that Justin Fields has cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol.
“Justin is playing,” Coach Glenn said.
The Jets will travel to play the Miami Dolphins in Week 4 on Monday Night Football.
Coach Glenn Explains What Fields Return Will Bring to His Offense
“No different than we have talked about all during training camp and in our first game. He is a dynamic runner [and] he is a smart player. I think in the passing game, he has shown exactly what he can do, ya know, that first game. We want to continue to expand on that and continue to get better. This week has been, for the most part, [one] of improvement,” Coach Glenn explained.
He confirmed that Fields officially cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol on Friday, September 26.
It’s Time for Fields to Find Consistency for the Jets on Offense
It has been a tale of two games for Fields.
In the season opener, Fields had a career day against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He went 16-of-22 from the field, threw for 218 passing yards, and scored three total touchdowns with no turnovers. On the ground, Fields added another 48 yards rushing. Things couldn’t have gone better for him individually.
However, in Week 2, things couldn’t have gone worse.
The Jets hosted the Buffalo Bills, and Fields imploded. He finished that contest going 3-of-11 for 27 passing yards. Fields was sacked twice, fumbled, and just looked out of sorts. He missed the majority of the fourth quarter after suffering a concussion.
In Week 3, Fields was unavailable due to the NFL’s concussion protocol. It’s about finding consistency in Week 4 for Fields and this Jets offense.
Coach Glenn Explains the Different Side of Fields We Have Seen This Season
“Every week is different. I think you have to understand if you have been in this league for a long time, I wish you could be at the top of your game every week, but that is just not realistic. When things went the way they went in that game, it got to a point where we really couldn’t do the things that we wanted to do. It took all of us out of our game: offense, defense, and special teams. So we want to make sure that we try to stay away from those things and try to keep him and our offense on track to exactly what we do well, and hopefully we can do that this week,” Glenn said.
Fields Provides a Light at the End of the Tunnel
With all due respect…
Quick aside, if you start a sentence with that, then the other person can’t take offense at what you’re about to say. Those are the rules.
With all due respect, Tyrod Taylor is a 36-year-old NFL professional quarterback. If the Jets are in a pinch and he is forced to play because of injury, he is a fine, serviceable player. There is a reason he is a backup.
However, that is where it ends. Fields is a 26-year-old talented quarterback with upside. A former first-round draft choice who is facing a fork in the road. One road will take him down the backup quarterback journey for the foreseeable future. The other road will reignite his career and crown him a franchise quarterback or, at the very least, a starting QB.
For better or for worse, we know what Taylor is at this stage of his career. The same can’t be said for Fields. They need him to continue to start as many games as possible so they can properly evaluate him.
Jets Make Final Call on QB Justin Fields Before Pivotal Dolphins Game