Reporting from the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in Florham Park, NJ
When the New York Jets signed quarterback Justin Fields to a two-year contract during the 2025 offseason, the organization made it clear that the former first-round signal-caller would not go through a competition to earn the starting job.
New York would be Fields’ team in 2025, no matter what happened early in camp or during games, or what he struggled with in the past. The Jets would go as far as Fields would take them, for better or worse.
As training camp continues, though, there’s an awkward reality seemingly setting in for the Jets.
It goes back to their decision to make Fields the starting quarterback without any prior competition.
Jets’ Awkward QB Situation
Unlike other positions on the roster, New York surprised analysts by declaring they weren’t going to put the signal-caller position under a competition.
By signing with the Jets during the offseason, Fields is joining his third team in as many years. Even so, head coach Aaron Glenn made it clear that New York would be Fields’ team.
The awkward part of that situation, though, is that Fields has not been the team’s best quarterback so far in camp. He has struggled with his long release time, and he is learning the new offense at his own rate.
That rate just happens to be slower than normal. The bigger issue is that Fields has been outplayed to this point by his backup.
That’s right. Tyrod Taylor has outplayed Fields to this point in camp.
Despite those legitimate concerns, Jets’ offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand loves what he has seen from his starting quarterback.
“I think Justin’s done a really nice job a week into camp,” Engstrand said. “He’s absorbing and digesting all the information as we get through it a second time. We had it in OTAs and now we have it a second time.
“We’re making some plays, but then we’re not making some plays. That’s going to happen in training camp as we’re going through the installation, but he’s had a nice camp so far.”
It’s important to remember that while Taylor has outplayed Fields to this point, New York is molding their offensive gameplan and philosophy to the latter. Taylor will never be competing for starting time with Fields, as the offensive scheme is solely built for the former 11th overall pick.
Fields’ development was always going to come in spurts. In addition to being on his third team in as many years, Engstrand is installing a new offense around the signal-caller, and the Ohio State product is also trying to learn his new teammates. That process takes time.
This is why the Jets won’t be making any quarterback changes.
It also doesn’t take away from what is happening in Florham Park.
Fields has plenty of time to show he can become a quality starting quarterback in New York. Until that happens, though, it’s pretty clear that Taylor appears to be the better pure passer.
The longer that continues, the more awkward things seem to be for the Jets moving forward.
