Justin Fields might be headed to the bench, but his New York Jets teammates still have his back.
On Friday, Fields declined to speak to reporters when approached at his locker while on his way to get a massage, stating he has “no reaction” to getting benched and that “[stuff] happens.”
In response to this interaction, the news of which was shared on social media, Jets running back Breece Hall came to Fields’ defense in an X post.
“Pathetic move by you [to be honest],” Hall wrote in response to the reporter. “Wish some of y’all would grow up and stop acting like little kids nagging somebody till they get mad.”
A report came out on Monday that the Jets were planning to bench Fields in favor of 36-year-old backup Tyrod Taylor heading into the team’s Week 12 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn confirmed the decision.
It’s been a tough year for Fields, who was tabbed as New York’s penciled-in starting quarterback without a competition after signing a two-year, $40 million contract in March. Through nine starts, Fields managed just 11 total touchdowns (seven passing, four rushing) and 1,450 net yards (1,259 passing, 383 rushing, and 192 lost via sacks), an average of 1.2 touchdowns and 161.1 yards per start.
His performance, along with the team’s 2-8 record, culminated in Glenn’s decision to turn to Taylor, who has proven himself to be a steady backup in his career. Across 15 NFL seasons, Taylor has led his teams to a 28-29-1 record as a starter, throwing for 71 touchdowns, 32 interceptions, and an 88.3 passer rating.
Despite his benching, Fields has been a class act off the field. The 26-year-old’s maturity and stoic mentality amidst the New York spotlight have been nothing short of impressive, even if the in-game results left a lot to be desired.
While Fields’ on-field performance warrants criticism, he shouldn’t be subjected to unfair nagging in the locker room while he’s handling his own business. It’s great to see one of the Jets’ team leaders come to his defense, signaling that Aaron Glenn’s locker room remains tight despite the lack of victories thus far.
