The New York Jets are making a change at quarterback, with Week 1 starter Justin Fields stepping back in under center to face the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 8.
However, the Jets are seemingly not making this decision by choice.
It is still a positive turn for Fields, who went 0-6 to start the season and was benched in favor of Tyrod Taylor. The Jets lost Taylor’s first start, against the Carolina Panthers, too. More importantly, the veteran suffered a knee injury that hindered him in practice this week.
That reopened the door for Fields, the No. 11 overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears.
“Justin Fields will start at QB against the Bengals,” the Jets announced in a post on X on Saturday.
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Taylor was a limited participant in practice all week while battling his knee injury. Still, the Jets and head coach Aaron Glenn decided to err on the side of caution with the 36-year-old QB, who is in his 15th NFL season.
The Jets ruled Taylor out for Week 8 after listing him as questionable on the injury report.
“We’ve downgraded QB Tyrod Taylor and WR Josh Reynolds to out,” the Jets announced in another post on Saturday. “Neither player will travel to Cincinnati.”
That news looms large for Fields, who will also be without No. 1 target, Garrett Wilson. Wilson is out with a knee injury. That leaves Tyler Johnson, Allen Lazard, and Arian Smith as the Jets’ top three healthy receivers.
“With Fields starting another week, talked to multiple coaches about his usage,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on X. “Consensus; Needs more designed runs.”
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Moreover, they are facing a resurgent Bengals team in Week 8.
Joe Flacco, acquired in a trade with the Cleveland Browns in Week 7, led the Bengals to a season-high 33 points against one of Fields’ former teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Jets will also be without star cornerback Sauce Gardner, though they will have Michael Carter. Defensive end Jermaine Johnson is also entering the contest without an injury designation.
That is all good news, since Fields and the Jets could have to lean on their defense to win.
