The New York Jets will turn to veteran Tyrod Taylor this weekend after ruling out fellow quarterback Justin Fields on Wednesday.
With Fields remaining in the concussion protocol, Taylor will make his first start since 2023 when he goes under center for the Jets (0-2) against the host Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0) on Sunday.
“There’s an element within him that we also have in Justin that I like a lot,” New York head coach Aaron Glenn said of Taylor on Wednesday. “The fact that he’s been in this league for a long time, there’s no coverage, there’s no pressure that he hasn’t seen. So that’s why I have confidence in him. He’s a very studious person, good athlete.”
Fields sustained a concussion on Sunday during New York’s 30-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills. He was injured in the opening minute of the fourth quarter when he was smacked by Buffalo pass rusher Joey Bosa after throwing an incomplete pass. Fields’ head hit the turf as he landed, but he remained in the game for one more play and Bosa sacked Fields, causing a fumble.
The Jets recovered the fumble but then had to punt and turned to Taylor with Fields ruled out.
Taylor, 36, replaced Fields and completed 7 of 11 passes for 56 yards and New York’s lone touchdown. Taylor had 21 yards on three carries.
Selected in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens, Taylor is in his second season with the Jets — his seventh team. He took just 36 snaps in 2024 behind starter Aaron Rodgers.
Taylor has appeared in 95 games and is 28-28-1 as a starter. He has completed 61.9 percent of his passes for 12,310 yards with 69 touchdowns and 29 interceptions.
The Bears selected Fields with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 draft. He spent three seasons in Chicago and one with the Pittsburgh Steelers before signing with the Jets as a free agent in the offseason.
Fields, 26, is 14-32 as a starter and has thrown for 8,025 yards with 46 TDs and 31 interceptions.
–Field Level Media
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