The New York Jets were hoping to usher in a new era with head coach Aaron Glenn, while replacing Aaron Rodgers with a young quarterback teeming with potential in Justin Fields. Unfortunately, a 0-6 start has evaporated any goodwill that the new combination may have had. The fan base is calling for the organization to fire Glenn from his role just six games into the year, and Fields’ stock is at the lowest it has ever been.
After a particularly brutal showing against the Denver Broncos in front of an international audience in London, even Glenn had to acknowledge Fields’ performance. While he was still mild in his breakdown, a former Super Bowl champion believes the time has come for New York to move on from him and make a change at the most important position in the sport.
Is Justin Fields’ Time With the New York Jets Over?
A first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears saw the upside of a dual-threat quarterback and tried to make it work. However, with no tangible results in three years, his time in the Windy City came to an end.
Last year, he was a backup to Russell Wilson on the Pittsburgh Steelers for the majority of the season, taking the starting role for the first six games while Wilson recovered. However, he chose to sign with the Jets in free agency, as both player and franchise approached a new beginning.
But the first six weeks have been more of the same from Fields. Ranked 30th on PFSN’s QB Impact, he has just thrown for 799 yards in five games, along with four touchdowns. Additionally, he also has 235 rushing touchdowns and three scores on the ground in those outings.
All in all, his numbers have been average. However, the situation reached a boiling point in Week 6 when he managed to throw for just 45 passing yards over the duration of the entire game. With seven carries worth 31 rushing yards, failing to improve that stat line, it was hard to justify his performance.
One of the greatest running backs of the 2010s, LeSean McCoy, believed the game was ample proof that the Jets needed a change. During the latest episode of Speak Easy, the former two-time Super Bowl champion was left flabbergasted by his stat line.
“What should I say? Your quarterback got 45 yards in four quarters,” he began his breakdown. “You got sacked nine times?!” Then, he had just one takeaway. “I’ve been telling y’all. The man can’t play. I’m sorry. He can’t do it.”
Unfortunately for Fields, the six-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro selection isn’t the only one feeling that way. Connor Hughes of SNY reported on X, “Several within the locker room have told SNY, at varying points beginning in training camp, they believe [Tyrod] Taylor is their best quarterback.”
Aaron Glenn Still Has Faith in Fields
However, on his side of things, Glenn remains committed to trying to work things out with Fields. “In this fifth game, he took a step back, and I’m with you guys 100 percent, and we can’t have that. We have to get better at that, and he knows that.”
Going a step further, he explained his rationale for not making a change under center. “He knows that better than anyone, so I don’t think you just try to bench a player after having one true bad game, because I thought the other games he played fairly well.”
The ultimate decision resides with Glenn, and he is willing to stick by the guy he gave a two-year, $40 million contract in the offseason. But, looking at the long-term picture, the lack of victories could position the Jets for a top draft pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. With a plethora of quarterbacks declaring for the league, New York could have a variety of options to choose from, if they so please, to make the change for good.