The New York Jets have learned in the last few years how important the backup quarterback position can be for a franchise. If their intended starting quarterback goes down, they must be able to trust whoever they turn to.

They didn’t in 2023 when Aaron Rodgers was lost for the season four plays into Week 1. Their season was derailed because of that.

Since then, New York brought in a veteran signal-caller in Tyrod Taylor to stabilize the position room. Entering his second season with the team, Taylor is expected to be one of the better backups in the game, especially behind the likes of Justin Fields.

There’s just one problem, though. And that issue is the last ugly lesson the Jets have to learn at the quarterback position.

Jets’ backup quarterback lesson

It has been said many times in the NFL that the best ability is availability.

That is as true for the backup quarterback position as any starting role on the team.

Taylor has been injury-prone throughout his career, and he finds himself banged up once again entering the 2025 opener. The backup quarterback suffered a knee injury in training camp that required surgery. The former Bills, Giants, and Chargers quarterback is expected to miss the rest of the preseason, and there is uncertainty about whether he will be healthy enough for the start of the regular season.

When he is healthy, though, the Jets couldn’t ask for a better backup.

“This is Year 15 for him and, of course, he’s seen a lot of things and has played in a lot of games,” Fields said of his backup in Taylor. “It’s great having him in the room, for sure.”

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Having a good backup quarterback is one thing. Having a good backup that is always healthy is something entirely different.

Fields has never played a full 17-game season as a starting quarterback. His career high for starts is 15. There’s a fair chance that the Jets will need to rely on a backup quarterback at some point during the 2025 season.

The expectation, at the bare minimum, is for that backup to be durable and serviceable enough to keep the team afloat without having to rely on any other arms off the open market.

The Jets have run into that precise dilemma. Due to Taylor’s injury, the Jets were forced to hold workouts for the likes of Nathan Peterman and C.J. Beathard on Thursday.

Taylor is as good a backup as you can ask for in this league, but he’s also had his share of injuries. The Jets are learning now how important it is to not just have an effective backup, but one that is durable enough to be available at all times.

Taylor’s latest injury reaffirms that reality.