Why NY Jets are built to survive without Justin Fields

During the New York Jets’ brutal 30-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills, quarterback Justin Fields left the game early due to a concussion.

Before his exit, he was compiling one of his worst games since entering the league.

Fields completed three of his 11 passing attempts (27%) for 27 yards, while also losing a critical fumble in the first quarter. He picked up 49 yards on the ground and lost 19 yards on two sacks.

The fifth-year quarterback finished with a brutal 1.1 QBR and -1.01 EPA per dropback, his worst marks in those categories throughout his 46 career starts.

Head coach Aaron Glenn confirmed on Monday that Fields will enter the league’s concussion protocol this week, which could leave him sidelined for the team’s Week 3 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

While some may be concerned by Fields’ potential absence, the team is built to survive without him.

Injuries like this highlight the importance of having one of the league’s most reliable backup quarterbacks in Tyrod Taylor.

In mop-up duty on Sunday, Taylor completed seven of his 11 passing attempts (64%) for 56 yards and a touchdown while picking up 21 yards on the ground throughout three carries.

Taylor has built a reputation as one of the league’s most reliable backup quarterbacks, entering games with poise and efficiency. Across 57 career starts, he owns a 28-28-1 record and rarely forces mistakes, opting for measured risks when pushing the ball downfield. In 2023 with the New York Giants, when he appeared in 11 games and started five, Taylor led the NFL with a turnover-worthy play rate of just 1.2%.

The primary factor preventing him from holding down a full-time starting job has been health. Injuries have kept Taylor from completing a full slate at any point in his 15-year NFL career.

When he stepped in as the Giants’ starter in the 2023 season, Taylor brought a level of stability the offense lacked with Daniel Jones and Tommy DeVito under center. Even in a unit hampered by the league’s lowest pass-blocking grade (43.4) and receiving grade (62.3), per Pro Football Focus, Taylor managed to operate like a competent starter on one of the NFL’s most dysfunctional offenses.

In five starts, Taylor led the Giants to a 2-3 record. Across 11 total appearances, he threw for 7.5 yards per attempt, five touchdowns, three interceptions, and an 89.1 passer rating. Taylor added 38 carries for 197 rushing yards.

With Fields in concussion protocol, Taylor may get the call Sunday in Tampa Bay, where he will have a chance to manage the game and lead the Jets to their first win of the 2025 season.