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Fields may have picked up a neck injury while attempting a Tush Push last week. Backup quarterback injuries are not always relevant, but with Patrick Mahomes (elbow) nursing a small injury, this is notable.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, other teams had interest in Fields, but his preference was to go to the Chiefs. It’s an interesting landing spot for the former No. 11 overall pick, who is now slated to join his third team in three seasons. With Patrick Mahomes (knee) still recovering from a torn ACL, Fields will be the presumed QB1 for the Chiefs throughout much of the offseason, and could draw the start in Week 1 if Mahomes is unable to start. Fields struggled during his lone season with the Jets, throwing for 1,259-7-1 in nine games while adding another 71-383-4 on the ground. One of the worst sack avoiders in the NFL, Fields was also sacked on 11.7 percent of his dropbacks and had an abysmal 23.3 percent pressure-to-sack rate. Going from one of the best sack avoiders in the league to one of the worst could present an interesting challenge for Andy Reid and the offense in the early portion of the season. That said, Fields’ rushing ability will also add another element to the offense that can be exploited in Mahomes’ offense. While he would be a risky short-term bit in 1QB leagues, Fields will have some later-round value in 2QB/Superflex leagues if Mahomes misses time. Jets beat writer Zack Rosenblatt reports the Jets are paying “all but $3 million of Fields’ $10 million guaranteed salary,” which saves them more money than what it would have cost to release him.

The reports comes off the heels of New York swapping Jermaine Johnson for T’Vondre Sweat. Hughes made it clear the Jets aren’t having a fire sale, though it’s hard to see this as anything else. They sent most of their big names packing at the trade deadline last year, with Sauce Gardner, Quinnen Williams, and Michael Carter all traded. At this point, the Jets are running out of players to deal, even if they want to keep making moves. Justin Fields is expected to be released, but a team looking to sign him could guarantee his services by trading for him. Garrett Wilson was also the subject of trade rumors last year, though the Jets just inked him to a long-term deal and didn’t seem interested in moving him at the deadline.

Fields would incur a $22 million dead cap hit and save the Jets only $1 million against the cap if released, and yet Rosenblatt still believes that is a likely scenario because the Jets are not lacking for cap space. Fields would likely find backup work somewhere if released, but the Jets runout appears likely to have been his final chance to cut it as a starter in the NFL. Rosenblatt also notes that it’s unlikely any team would trade for Fields at this point.

Fields reportedly declined the invitation to focus on his offseason training as he continues his bid to return as a franchise quarterback after a tumultuous beginning to his career. Fields enters 2026 in the final year of a two-year deal signed with the Jets prior to the 2025 regular season but appears to be on the outs with the franchise, potentially auditioning for a backup gig somewhere else. The dual threat quarterback has started 53 games during a five-year NFL career while playing for three different franchises in the three previous seasons.

So, probably not then. Fields enters year two of a two-year contract as either a trade possibility or a candidate for release. The trade would save more cap space for the Jets, so we’d expect them to pursue that avenue. Fields would still be a fairly good backup quarterback option for most teams even if he hasn’t delivered great results as a starter. The 2021 first-rounder turns 27 in March.

Fields looked downright unplayable for much of 2025, struggling to complete 10 passes at times and crossing 200 yards passing in just four of nine starts. The Jets also failed to really utilize his legs on designed plays for much of the season, leaving him with the worst of both worlds as a fantasy contributor. Still somehow only 26, Fields is no guarantee to see out the second year of his two-year contract with the Jets. A post-June 1 release would save the Jets $10 million in cap space. He also is a trade possibility. The knee injury is not incredibly significant, with Fields telling reporters in the locker room last week that he felt “week to week,” so he should be healthy for the offseason.

Fields will function as the team’s emergency QB3 as Tyrod Taylor backs up Brady Cook, who’s making his second NFL start. Fields has likely played his last snap with the Jets. Mason Taylor (neck) being sidelined should open up more snaps and pass routes for TE Jeremy Ruckert, who this week signed a contract extension with the Jets.

Fields talked to reporters on Friday and said he is “week to week” and “trying to get back before the end of the season.” Those don’t read like the quotes of someone who will be active in Week 16, but here he is on the questionable line, daring the Saints to prepare for him or something like that.

Tyrod Taylor was also absent during the portion of practice open to the media. All signs point to Brady Cook making his starting NFL debut on Sunday. Cooks took over for Taylor mid-game last week and was a disaster. He completed fewer than half of his attempts and was intercepted twice. Cook also took six sacks. Cook being named the starter would take Aondai Mitchell and John Metchie off the fantasy radar for Week 15. Cook himself won’t be a fantasy option, even in Superflex leagues.

Tyrod Taylor was also a DNP on Wednesday after injuring his groin last week against the Dolphins. Undrafted rookie QB Brady Cook is set to see all the first-team practice reps ahead of the Jets’ Week 15 game against Jacksonville. Cook, who had 163 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions against Miami, would barley be startable even in superflex formats this week.

The Jets don’t have too many significant inactives for Week 14 against the Dolphins. The biggest is Justin Fields, who was ruled out due to a knee issue this week. Brady Cook was signed from the practice squad to be Tyrod Taylor’s backup. Tony Adams will also be out due to a groin injury, leaving the Jets defense reaching for depth against the Dolphins passing game.

According to Glenn, the Jets’ backup QB reported knee soreness on Wednesday and will now be ruled out. Rookie UDFA Brady Cook will be elevated from the practice squad this weekend and serve as Tyrod Taylor’s backup.

Were it not for an injury to Tyrod Taylor earlier this season, this may have happened much sooner than Week 12. However, the injury to Taylor in Week 8 bought Fields some extra time, and the Jets won back-to-back games in Weeks 8 and 10, generating some hope that the team may be turning a corner. That hope, however, was quickly dashed in Week 11’s loss to the Patriots, when Fields, who struggled mightily in Week 10 despite the victory, threw for 116 yards and one touchdown while also losing a key fumble late in the game. Fields signed a two-year, $40 million contract with the Jets this offseason and carries a $22 million dead cap hit in 2026 if released. The Jets will likely take on that hit as they look to again rebuild their QB room in 2026.

It should be noted that when coaches go to the “evaluating” line this year, the incumbent quarterback tends to wind up on the bench. Frankly, the Jets have stuck with Justin Fields longer than we expected this year despite his struggles in the passing offense. Tyrod Taylor would be the name to watch here — though he’s old enough that he can’t realistically be expected to start without getting dinged up at this point. Fields-reliant managers will want to stay tuned for the next 30 updates about the situation in which Glenn continues to talk without saying anything.

Fields and the Jets got off to a strong start to open the game. Picking up one first down after another with primarily his legs, Fields led a lengthy 14-play, 72-yard drive, which he capped with a five-yard rush touchdown to give the Jets the early lead. Unfortunately for Fields, the offense would three-and-out on its next three drives, and didn’t add any additional points until late in the third quarter when Fields connected with John Metchie for a 22-yard score after a Patriots defender slipped in coverage. Fields would fumble a snap in the fourth quarter that resulted in a turnover and a Patriots field goal three plays later, but his conservative play continued to limit turnovers through the air. He took two sacks late in the fourth quarter with the game already out of reach, but Fields’ struggles through the air were noticeable. It doesn’t help that his pass-catchers, specifically Adonai Mitchell, failed to haul in a few catchable passes. Fields entered halftime with just 25 passing yards and continues to fall well short of the passing yard totals we’ve grown accustomed to seeing from a modern-day QB. He’ll be hard to trust as anything more than a dart throw in 2QB/Superflex leagues in Week 12 against the Ravens.

The Jets leave their weekly quarterback decision shrouded in mystery to maintain a competitive advantage. Fields started last week and kept the team from losing by maintaining a lead established by two special teams touchdowns. We’ll see if it works out for them once again. Fields is a highly volatile fantasy starter, capable of breaking long gains and delivering costly turnovers.

It’s par for the course for Glenn, who reminded reporters that “I’m not going to tell you” even if they do ask. Justin Fields threw for a whopping 54 yards in Sunday’s win over the Browns, which was only made possible by two special teams touchdowns and a 42-yard touchdown reception by Breece Hall that came on a screen pass. Glenn has been in Fields’ corner since day one and was nearly backed into benching him before an injury to Tyrod Taylor forced Fields back into the starting lineup for Week 9. Fields will likely continue to start until the losses again pile up, which could happen as early as Thursday when they take on the 8-2 Patriots.

You may be wondering how that statline came in a victory. Fields had not one, but two special teams touchdowns to thank, while Breece Hall turned on the afterburners after Fields diagnosed a zero blitz correctly and got the ball to his pass-catching back. Hall was then off to the races for a 42-yard “receiving score.” Best play, etc. but Fields would have finished with *zero* net yards passing had his Hall attempt fallen incomplete, as he took three sacks for 12 yards. It didn’t help that Garrett Wilson aggravated his knee injury and failed to finish the contest, but that was more than halfway through an already dreadful performance. The short week is not a good time to make a quarterback change, but Gang Green will probably consider Tyrod Taylor for Thursday evening against the Patriots.

Head coach Aaron Glenn kept his starting quarterback a secret all week. The 1-7 Jets refuse to give up this gamesmanship gimmick, even though Fields was always going to start in Week 10 after picking up his first win of the year before the team’s Week 9 bye. Fields’ rushing output will keep him on the QB1/2 border versus the Browns, but his struggles as a passer make him a low-floor bet.