If New York Jets fans were asked what their team’s most aggravating issue during their 14-year playoff drought has been, the answer would universally and soundly be uttered in unison: The organization’s instability at the quarterback position.
Top draft picks, top signings, and gambles have all struggled to work out once they make their way to Florham Park. There’s another reason for that instability, though.
Injuries.
Over the years, the Jets have had to replace their intended starting quarterback due to numerous injuries. From an Aaron Rodgers’ Achilles tear to shoulder injuries to even an incredible case of mono (yes, we’re thinking of you, Sam Darnold), New York has had to rely on its backup quarterback as much as (if not more than) any team in the NFL.
Heading into Sunday’s Week 3 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Jets will have to face that familiar pattern again. Tyrod Taylor is set to replace Justin Fields—after the latter suffered a concussion in their 30-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Taylor is as good a fill-in starter as there is in the league. The plan behind him, though, is far more volatile and concerning for the organization.
Jets’ QB situation poses a nightmare scenario
Taylor is a quality starting quarterback; that isn’t the issue. The big problem for New York is that the starter’s backup is undrafted rookie Brady Cook. The Missouri product played well during the preseason, but relying on the kid in such a prominent spot is an entirely different story.
Head coach Aaron Glenn stated the team would be prepared should something happen to Taylor and push Cook—who will be elevated from the practice squad—onto the field.
“He wouldn’t be here if I weren’t confident in him; I thought he did some really good things in the preseason,” Glenn said. “Listen, he’s still learning, and it’s one of those things, [where] we have a number of rookies that play on the field for us, and it’s no different than him being a quarterback.
“Obviously, it’s a more highlighted position, but he’s a rookie, and if it comes to him needing to play, he has to play, and we’re going to do everything we can to put him in the best position to be successful.”
There’s an uncomfortable truth surrounding New York’s quarterback situation. For as good as Taylor is, he has dealt with a plethora of injuries in his own right.
Trusting the UDFA
The veteran backup signal-caller is prepping for his first start since 2023, when he suffered an injury with the New York Giants, which ultimately unleashed the Tommy DeVito story onto the football world.
After Fields’ concussion, it would have made sense for the Jets to add a veteran quarterback to the roster. That way, they would have had a strong succession plan in place should something happen to Taylor.
They chose not to, instead valuing the trust in an undrafted rookie.
The hope is that Taylor will be able to play the whole game. Should he not, though, the Jets will have to play their third quarterback in September, which is extremely rare in the league.
Just another day with the Jets? Perhaps.
Either way, it is fair to argue that the team could have been better prepared going into Sunday. Instead, the New York Jets are a play away from having to turn to a UDFA to save their season.
It’s an unfair situation for anyone to be in on those parameters.