The winless New York Jets are planning to bench quarterback Justin Fields, with owner Woody Johnson publicly criticizing the struggling starter on Tuesday. Head coach Aaron Glenn is moving toward naming veteran Tyrod Taylor the new starter ahead of Sunday\'s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, sources told ESPN.
Johnson said the decision remains \"completely up to\" Glenn but made his position clear at the NFL fall meeting in New York. He praised Glenn for \"turning around parts\" of the team while acknowledging the quarterback situation has not worked.
\"It\'s hard when you have a quarterback with a rating that he\'s got,\" Johnson said. \"I mean, he has ability, but something just is not jiving. You have to play consistently at that position, and that\'s what we\'re going to try to do for the remainder of the season.\"
Johnson added: \"If we can just complete a pass, it would look good.\"
The Jets signed Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract with $30 million guaranteed in the offseason. The plan was to evaluate him as their long-term answer throughout the season. After an 0-7 start, the organization has apparently seen enough.
Fields has posted a career-low 32.1 Total QBR through six starts, ranking 31st among 33 qualified passers. The Jets have scored just seven touchdowns in their last six games, none in the first half. Glenn benched Fields at halftime Sunday after he completed only 6 of 12 passes for 46 yards and took three sacks.
\"The offense is just not clicking, and you can\'t run the ball if you can\'t pass the ball,\" Johnson said. \"That\'s football 101.\"
Taylor, 36, holds a 28-29-1 record as a starter over his career. He started Week 3 when Fields was sidelined with a concussion and has completed 43 of 69 passes for 379 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions in seven-plus quarters this season. Glenn is expected to announce his decision Wednesday.
Johnson expressed no regrets about releasing Aaron Rodgers, who has led the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 4-2 start this season.
\"I never look back,\" Johnson said. \"Aaron\'s playing great now. He\'s in a situation that\'s working for him.\"
Via Rich Cimini/ESPN
