The New York Jets are in a predicament that one of their biggest rivals experienced 24 years ago. After an 0-2 start, the organization has to deal with the reality that its starting quarterback may be lost for the following game due to an injury.

In 2001, the New England Patriots shrugged off an 0-2 start and an early-season injury to Drew Bledsoe to go on a miraculous run with a deficient quarterback in Tom Brady.

Jets fans don’t really need to hear the rest of the story. Brady haunted them for decades after.

While 36-year-old Tyrod Taylor is certainly not 24-year-old Brady, the concussion suffered by starting quarterback Justin Fields in New York’s 30-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills leaves the Jets in a similar situation.

And like New England before them, Gang Green has all the confidence in the world in their backup quarterback.

Jets believe in Tyrod Taylor

Jets head coach Aaron Glenn announced Monday morning that Fields enters the week in concussion protocol.

With the league’s commitment to understanding the severity of head injuries, there’s a good chance the former first-round pick will be out for New York’s Week 3 contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

That means the 15-year NFL veteran in Taylor could get his first start of the season, and his first since he was the New York Giants’ starter late in 2023.

Glenn believes the Jets will be ready should Taylor be forced to play on Sunday.

“I said that during camp, that was one of the positive things of having Tyrod as a backup, but there are some things that we want to get together as a staff and make sure that we are aligned on, as far as, man, this is specifically what Tyrod likes,” Glenn said. “That’s communication with Tyrod too. So, I don’t want to go that far ahead until we have a chance to sit with him and understand the things he likes also.”

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The Virginia Tech product is 28-28-1 as a starter in his career.

That’s why players like tight end Jeremy Ruckert are comfortable if a quarterback change is needed.

“It’s not so much about chemistry,” Ruckert said. “He shows up every single day. We have the utmost confidence in him.”

A Veteran Comparison

Taylor has survived in the NFL due to his value as a quality backup quarterback. Glenn, as a coach, has seen what a good backup can do for a roster’s confidence.

During his time with the Detroit Lions, he saw the team make a late-season roster move for a signal-caller who reminds him of Taylor.

“Tyrod’s has been in this league for a number of years, so I look at that just like Teddy Bridgewater,” Glenn explained. “I mean, last year, Teddy came back with us during the playoffs, and he was able to come in and function for us when (Jared) Goff had went down.”

Whether Taylor starts on Sunday hinges on how Fields progresses through the concussion protocol.

Questions still need to be answered, but New York is confident in its plan should Fields be unable to go. Taylor is one of the most reliable backups in the league today, and he can keep the Jets’ offense afloat in Week 3.