On Monday, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported that the New York Jets would be making a quarterback change after a loss to the New England Patriots on Thursday Night Football, benching Justin Fields in favor of 36-year-old veteran Tyrod Taylor.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn explained his reasoning behind the change under center.
“It was my decision. I felt like it was the time to do it,” said the first-year head coach. “These situations are not always easy, but as the head coach, you have to do what’s best for the team.”
“(Fields) understood my decision. Obviously, he’s not happy with the decision, and I wouldn’t expect him to be. But he understands. I have to make a decision as a head coach to do what’s best for this team.”
Taylor steps into a Jets offense that has struggled mightily in recent weeks, especially through the air.
New York has struggled to clear even modest passing benchmarks, dipping under 150 yards in four of their last five outings, as the team ranks dead-last this season in passing yards per game.
Fields has been at the helm for all of those games. The former first-rounder has shown flashes, but the numbers tell the story of his inconsistent season. While he only has one interception, he has thrown for just 1,250 yards (138.9 per game) and seven touchdowns in nine starts.
Last week in Foxborough was more of the same. Fields went 15-for-26 with a touchdown but managed only 116 yards, averaging under four net yards per attempt.
Taylor will now get another chance under center for Gang Green. His lone start this season came back in Week 3, when he threw for 197 yards and two touchdowns, along with a costly pick-six, in a narrow loss to Tampa Bay.
This week, the Jets hope he can give an offense searching for answers a much-needed spark.
