https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/breaking-news/article/jets-qb-justin-fields-to-start-vs-bengals-as-tyrod-taylor-ruled-out-with-knee-injury-170129239.html
A week that started with first-year New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn refusing to name a starting quarterback ahead of a road matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals — and included team owner Woody Johnson slamming the play of Justin Fields at the NFL’s annual fall owners meeting — will culminate in Fields starting for the 0-7 Jets.
Tyrod Taylor, who replaced a benched Fields in the second half of a Week 7 loss to the Carolina Panthers, has been ruled out with a knee injury, and Fields will once again get the nod versus the Bengals.
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Glenn cited a competitive advantage when declining to name a starting quarterback for Week 8, but he was leaning toward Taylor early in the week, per ESPN.
Taylor threw two picks and completed only 10-of-22 passes in relief of Fields against the Panthers last week. He also took a helmet to his surgically repaired knee.
That injury limited the veteran journeyman in practice this week. He and Fields said they split practice reps in the lead-up to Sunday’s game.
Taylor didn’t make the trip to Cincinnati, according to multiple reports. That means rookie Brady Cook, whom the Jets signed as an undrafted free agent out of Missouri, will be Fields’ backup.
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The Jets signed Fields to a two-year, $40 million deal in the offseason. Of that $40 million, $30 million was guaranteed. It was the latest opportunity for Fields — the No. 11 overall pick of the Chicago Bears in 2021 — to prove he can be a franchise quarterback.
His audition in New York has gone about as badly as it could.
The Jets have the worst passing offense in the NFL, and Fields went a combined 15 of 29 in his past two starts — touchdown-less losses to the Denver Broncos and Panthers — while accounting for only 91 passing yards and 12 sacks.
The Jets finished with -10 passing yards in London during their ugly 13-11 defeat to the Broncos.
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That led to Fields’ halftime benching the following week versus the Panthers and ultimately to Johnson’s head-turning comments this week.
“It’s hard when you have a quarterback with the rating that we’ve got,” Johnson said from league meetings in New York.
“I mean, he has the ability but something is just not jibing. If you look at any head coach with a quarterback like that, you’re going to see similar results across the league. You have to play consistently at that position.”
Johnson left the quarterback decision to Glenn, though, and Glenn kept that decision under wraps throughout the week.
But with Taylor out, Fields is the starter again.
https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/breaking-news/article/jets-qb-justin-fields-to-start-vs-bengals-as-tyrod-taylor-ruled-out-with-knee-injury-170129239.html
