After being named the starter earlier this week, will New York Jets' quarterback Tyrod Taylor be the answer to the team's struggles on offense?
The New York Jets, after an abysmal 2-8 start to the 2025 NFL season, are now making a change at the quarterback position prior to the team’s Week 12 contest against the Baltimore Ravens.
On Monday, head coach Aaron Glenn told reporters that quarterback Tyrod Taylor will be the team’s starter over Justin Fields, claiming that “it was time to make that decision.”
"At this point, I just feel like we have to do something to get this team going offensively in the passing game, and I just felt like it was time to make that decision," Glenn told reporters.
In his nine games as the starting quarterback, Fields threw for just 1,259 yards and seven touchdowns while completing 62.7 percent of his attempts. The 26-year-old also played a key role in the team’s rushing attack, tallying 383 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
Despite his dual-threat ability, it was clear that the passing game was one of the worst in the league with Fields under center, as the Jets rank dead last in passing yards per game this season at 139.9 yards per game.
Outside of his start against the Buffalo Bills earlier in the season, half of Fields' games this year resulted in him throwing for less than 125 yards, along with Fields threw less than 55 yards in three of his last five games.
The decision to move off Fields was an obvious choice for Glenn, but will Taylor provide a spark on offense?
Taylor’s journey as a top backup quarterback in the NFL has landed him in New York this year, as he’s played in three games with the struggling franchise. In his three appearances, Taylor has thrown for 379 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions.
The 36-year-old had a promising start against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, throwing for nearly 200 yards and two touchdowns in the 29-27 loss on the road.
Now, Taylor will have to face a Ravens defense that is coming off a strong performance against the Cleveland Browns in Week 11.
While it’s clear that Taylor offers more in the passing game, the issue will be his supporting cast for the contest. Jets’ star wide receiver is currently on the Injury Reserve, leaving Taylor with John Metchie III, AD Mitchell, and Mason Taylor as his primary pass catchers.
The trio combined for 13 targets in New York’s Thursday Night loss to the New England Patriots, which points to the group being the main playmakers on Sunday.
When looking at how Taylor could use his pass catchers, Mitchell could be the wideout that unlocks the deep game for the Jets. The former 2024 second-round pick was recently acquired in the deal that sent Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts, and with New York’s lack of reliable pass catchers, the organization hopes to see flashes of promise from the second-year wideout.