According to NFL insider Connor Hughes of SNY, New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields connected on just 15-of-43 pass attempts with a pair of interceptions over his last three practices through Tuesday.
Following the team’s latest session, Fields insisted that rough outings are “inevitable” at this time of the year.
“You’re going to have these days in training camp,” Fields explained. “That’s why we’re out here. That’s why we’re out here working. The defense won the day at the end of the day. It’s about how we respond on Thursday. We have to come out hot.”
The Jets named Fields their 2025 Week 1 starter shortly after they signed him to a two-year, $40M contract that included $30M guaranteed in March. Gang Green could’ve added an interesting prospect to its quarterback room via a first- or second-round pick in this year’s draft, but the AFC East side instead will enter the preseason with journeyman Tyrod Taylor serving as its primary backup.
Fields suffered a dislocated toe back in late July and is still rocking what Hughes referred to as “a size bigger shoe” on that foot. While that setback could be bothering Fields, it likely isn’t the only reason he and his new teammates have lacked chemistry.
“Some of it’s me,” Fields said about the struggles endured by the Jets’ offense this summer. “Some of it is dropping the ball. It’s practice. I’ve been a part of games where we have a red-zone Friday, we run the play three times, we don’t hit it one time, then Sunday comes and we hit it the first time we run it. Our guys are talented enough to get the job done. When we don’t have the day we want to have, it’s just about how we respond.”
While with the Chicago Bears from 2021-23, Fields went 10-28 as a starter and completed 60.3 percent of his pass attempts. According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, Fields ranked 29th in total QBR for his first four pro seasons (2021-24).
The Jets were hoping that Fields would look like an improved passer coming off his one-campaign stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers. That hasn’t yet been the case this summer.
First-year Jets head coach Aaron Glenn may respond by giving Fields some playing time in this coming Saturday’s preseason opener at the Green Bay Packers. Regardless of Glenn’s plans for the weekend, Fields should participate in joint practices against the New York Giants ahead of the Aug. 16 exhibition matchup involving those clubs.
This content was brought to you by: Yardbarker: NFL
