Jets turn to Tyrod Taylor for Week 3 after Fields concussion
With Justin Fields sidelined by a concussion, the Jets will turn to veteran Tyrod Taylor for the Buccaneers matchup in Tampa.
New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields will miss Week 3, elevating Tyrod Taylor to the starting role for a matchup at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after Fields was ruled out following a concussion in practice. The decision keeps the Jets’ rotation in play early in the season, marking the third time in four years that the team has leaned on a backup quarterback before October arrives. Taylor, a 15-year veteran who has started 59 regular-season and playoff games, will make his first start since 2023 when Gang Green visits Tampa.
Fields’ status was clarified after he exited Sunday’s game having completed 3 of 11 passes for 27 yards. He is in the league’s five-step concussion protocol, and Jets coach Aaron Glenn said the quick determination wasn’t about a lack of progression so much as the medical timeline for the quarterback. “Well I don’t want to say that. I just know how these things are, and just to my knowledge, this week, he’ll be out,” Glenn said.
Taylor’s opportunity comes after a circuitous path to the Jets’ starting job. He joined New York on a two-year deal last year and served as Aaron Rodgers’ backup, appearing in two games in 2024 before Fields took over as the team’s presumed starter. He missed a portion of this summer’s camp due to arthroscopic knee surgery in August but remained engaged, logging mental reps in meetings and preparing as if he would be needed. Jets offensive coordinator and head coach say he brings a wealth of experience, with Glenn noting Taylor has “over 14 years of reps” and is no stranger to stepping in when called upon.
Taylor has built a career around preparation and versatility, bouncing between teams that include the Ravens, Bills, Giants, Chargers, Texans and Browns before landing with the Jets in recent years. He started five games for the Giants in 2023 when Daniel Jones was sidelined, and he has long been viewed as a quarterback who can manage a game while supporting teammates and the game plan. As he prepares to take the field in Tampa, Taylor downplayed the notion that the stakes add pressure, saying he believes in the players around him and the plan the Jets have drawn up for the week. “We know we’re facing a very good team, but I have all the belief and faith in the guys in this locker room that we can get the job done.”
Jets coach Aaron Glenn praised Taylor’s readiness, pointing out that Fields’ absence underscores the value of having a veteran who is comfortable in New York’s system. “There’s an element within him that we also have in Justin that I like a lot,” Glenn said, highlighting Taylor’s experience and composure. “There’s no better player that you want as a backup quarterback than him at this point in time.”
The Jets’ offense showed mixed results in the early going. Week 1 produced 394 yards but yielded a much more muted 154-yard showing the following week, leaving the team to lean on the run game and short passes while hoping for smoother execution with Taylor under center. Sauce Gardner, one of the team’s leaders on defense, has given Taylor high praise, calling him “The Hooper” and “a baller” for his ability to move the offense down the field when called upon. With Fields out, New York will rely on Taylor’s command of the huddle and a game plan designed to maximize the unit’s strengths while keeping mistakes to a minimum.
In his approach to the week, Taylor emphasized staying in the moment and avoiding a distraction-filled buildup. “Obviously, you want to be out there playing, but there’s other ways you can affect the team in a positive way,” he said. “And as I sit and wait my time for the opportunity to present itself, I can’t be a bad teammate. I can’t sulk in what-if or what should happen. The reality of it is that I need to be in the moment.”
For the Jets, the math remains simple: a win would keep the season on track and prevent a potential 0-3 start that would complicate the road ahead. Taylor and the offense will aim to capitalize on an opponent that recently tested its own depth at quarterback and will rely on a balanced approach that prioritizes ball security and timely throws. The Buccaneers will provide a stern test, and the Jets will look to their veteran backup to steady the ship in a high-stakes early-season matchup.
