It didn’t take long for the New York Jets to move away from the Justin Fields experiment in 2025. Gang Green gave the former first-round pick eight starts before moving on to Tyrod Taylor for the last two starts.

After a five-game stretch in which Fields averaged 81 net passing yards per game, Taylor replaced the 26-year-old and has since brought newfound aggressiveness to New York’s passing attack.

For all the struggles that Fields has dealt with this season, though, head coach Aaron Glenn still thinks there’s a role for him on the Jets, even if the former Bear and Steeler apparently isn’t thrilled with that role going forward.

Glenn defends Fields

In the Jets’ most recent game, Taylor displayed the type of quarterback play that the offense wasn’t getting out of Fields. Taylor recorded a 79.6 QBR in Sunday’s 27-24 win over the Atlanta Falcons, ranking sixth-best in Week 13, while guiding the Jets to a game-winning drive in the closing moments.

As expected, Fields did not see action. That came a day after ESPN’s Rich Cimini reported that the Jets would try to create a package of plays for the Ohio State product.

The quarterback reportedly wasn’t ecstatic about signing off on that, though.

“Fields said there’s been some discussion about using him in a Wildcat role, but he has ‘mixed feelings’ about it,” Cimini said. “Going in cold creates the potential for a soft-tissue injury.”

Backing out of potentially helping the team in any capacity isn’t a good look for a struggling quarterback.

According to his head coach, though, New York’s backup quarterback isn’t going to be thrown away just yet.

“Justin is a huge part of what we’re doing,” Glenn said on Monday. “I mean, if Tyrod (Taylor) goes down, he’s going to be the guy and he knows that… He’s the ultimate team guy, and whatever he can do to help the team, he will.”

It’s important to remember that while Taylor is expected to be the Jets’ starting quarterback for the final five games of the regular season, he hasn’t started seven games in a season since 2017. There’s a good chance Taylor’s injury history will catch up with him, pushing Fields back into the starting lineup.

Glenn continuing to stand by his backup signals that he understands the reality of having Taylor under center. While the Jets may not have a package of plays ready for Fields, they are prepared to turn back to him if needed.