Jets quarterback Justin Fields ruled out with concussion, Tyrod Taylor to start against Buccaneers

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FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Justin Fields is out for at least one game and Tyrod Taylor is ready to step in for the New York Jets, just as he has done so many times during his multiple NFL stops.

Coach Aaron Glenn announced Wednesday that Fields was ruled out for the game at Tampa Bay with a concussion, and Taylor would start at quarterback against the Buccaneers on Sunday.

“I challenge myself each and every day to prepare like a starter because you never know when an opportunity will present itself,” the 36-year-old Taylor said after practice. "And the main thing is you don’t want to, obviously, let your team down. But you want to prove to yourself that you’re capable of doing what you know you can do.

“That’s been the mentality since Day 1 in my time in the NFL.”

Fields remains in the concussion protocol after being hurt late in the Jets’ 30-10 loss to Buffalo last Sunday.

“I just know how these things are,” Glenn said, declining to say whether Fields has improved while in the protocol. “Just to my knowledge, this will be a week he'll be out.”

Fields fell backward when he was sacked by Joey Bosa in the fourth quarter and the back of his helmet hit off the turf.

Taylor will start for the first time since doing so in five games for the Giants in 2023.

“I have competed against him a number of times and there's an element within him that we also have in Justin that I like a lot,” Glenn said, likely referring to how both are dual-threat quarterbacks.

“The fact that he's been in this league for a long time, there's no coverage, there's no pressure that he hasn't seen,” Glenn added. “That's why I have confidence in him. He's a very studious person, a good athlete. ... There's no better player that you would want as your backup quarterback than him at this point in time.”

Taylor missed the Jets’ three preseason games with a knee injury that required surgery, but neither he nor Glenn is concerned that Taylor will be compromised in any way.

“Obviously a lot of mental reps,” Taylor said. “I know you guys didn’t see me on the field, but I missed one day away from the facility after my surgery. Other than that, I was here every day. I sat in every meeting."

Taylor went 7 of 11 for 56 yards in place of Fields against the Bills, including a 5-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Ruckert.

“He has over 14 years of reps,” Glenn said of Taylor. “So, he's not new to this.”

Taylor, who signed a two-year deal with the Jets last year to be Aaron Rodgers’ backup, has 58 career starts in the NFL. He also has been a popular teammate on teams for which he has played. Cornerback Sauce Gardner drew laughs after calling him a "cool guy, cool cat” who dresses nice and does well socially.

“He’s confident, for sure,” Gardner said. “He's a baller. We be calling him a ‘hooper.’ When he gets on the field, he be hooping, finds a way to march the offense up and down the field.”

Taylor began his career as a backup with Baltimore from 2011 through 2014 before going to Buffalo, where he started 43 games over three seasons.

Taylor later started games for Cleveland (three in 2018), the Los Angeles Chargers (one in 2020), Houston (six in 2021) and the Giants (five in 2023). He has thrown for 12,310 yards and 69 touchdowns with 29 interceptions in 95 games over 14-plus seasons. Taylor also has rushed for 2,302 yards and 19 TDs.

“I embrace it,” Taylor said of being mostly a backup during his career. “God has a plan for everyone. Obviously, you want to be out there playing, but there’s other ways that you can affect the team in a positive way. As I stay and await 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 have to be in the moment.”

It's a tough break for Fields, who had a standout debut against Pittsburgh with a touchdown pass and two TD runs in the loss. But he struggled mightily against the Bills, going just 3 of 11 for 27 yards and running for 49 yards on five carries before leaving the game with the concussion.

It's believed to be the first documented concussion for Fields in the NFL.

Fields isn't the only key Jets player dealing with an injury this week. Edge rusher Jermaine Johnson (ankle), safety Tony Adams (hip), nickel cornerback Michael Carter II (shoulder), defensive tackle Jay Tufele (illness), wide receiver Josh Reynolds (hamstring) and running back/kick returner Kene Nwangwu (hamstring) all sat out practice Wednesday. Glenn did acknowledge that “a lot of those guys are trending in the right direction.”

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