The Jets may have a special backup quarterback this week in opposition to the Dolphins.
Justin Fields was dominated out as a consequence of knee soreness.
Follow squad quarterback Brady Prepare dinner can be elevated for the third time this season and can be Tyrod Taylor‘s backup quarterback vs. Miami at MetLife Stadium on Sunday afternoon. With a 3-9 file, Prepare dinner being the Jets backup quarterback this week is essential for a few causes.
NFL groups can elevate as much as two follow squad gamers for every sport with out including them to the energetic 53-man roster. This would be the third time Prepare dinner has been elevated, which is the utmost per season.
A fourth elevation would require the Jets to signal him to their 53-man roster. Provided that the Jets are near being eradicated from playoff rivalry, Prepare dinner might see taking part in time earlier than the top of this season.
The Jets signed Prepare dinner, 24, as an undrafted free agent out of Missouri shortly following final April’s NFL Draft. They didn’t draft a quarterback, so Prepare dinner has been serving as their developmental quarterback.
“He’s a very fiery guy,” Jets coach Aaron Glenn stated about Prepare dinner. “The one factor we do fairly a bit in follow is we’ve got various competitors durations and also you precisely see how he goes about his enterprise when his time comes as much as be in that scenario to compete. He appears ahead to it, he all the time asks when these alternatives are going to come back for him to do it, and we make certain we give him his reps.
“He’s a very competitive guy. He’s going to be a quarterback in this league. I can’t tell you when, but he will be a quarterback in this league.”
Prepare dinner, being the Jets backup in opposition to Miami, might possible spell the top of Fields’ time with the Jets. Glenn informed reporters that they’d see how Fields’ knee “progresses” to find out his standing for subsequent week’s sport at Jacksonville.
After signing a two-year, $40 million contract in March, Fields was presupposed to be the subsequent quarterback in line to revitalize his profession with a special crew, much like the paths of Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield. However he has had a catastrophic season, highlighted by poor play, which led to Fields being criticized by Jets proprietor Woody Johnson on the NFL Fall Conferences in October.
In 9 video games, Fields has thrown for 1,259 yards, seven touchdowns, and one interception. However he’s twenty ninth out of 31 certified quarterbacks in QBR (38.7).
Fields has not performed for the reason that Jets’ Nov. 13 sport in opposition to the Patriots after he was benched for Taylor. The Jets’ passing assault was the worst within the league with Fields underneath middle as a result of he held the ball too lengthy within the pocket. When he did cross the ball, Fields would usually take checkdowns to keep away from risking interceptions down the sector.
Fields is about to make $20 million in 2026, together with $10 million assured. He’s underneath contract by 2026, however it’s onerous to see any state of affairs through which the Jets would convey Fields again.
The Jets at the moment maintain the seventh place within the 2026 NFL Draft. However after dealing each Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams on the commerce deadline final month, they need to have loads of draft capital to commerce up for any quarterback of their selecting.
Which is why the Jets, as soon as they’re formally eradicated from playoff rivalry, might resolve to play Prepare dinner through the remaining month of the season. Not that he would resolve the Jets’ quarterback woes, however it’s doable Prepare dinner might flip right into a viable backup QB.
“Obviously, from a personal level, you are always looking for that next opportunity,” Prepare dinner stated. “This is mine to back up Tyrod this week. It’s a pleasure, I’m excited.”
At 6-2, 215 kilos, Prepare dinner is exceptionally athletic, as proven by his 4.59 40-yard sprint on the NFL Mix. He may make throws to all three ranges of the soccer subject along with his above-average arm.
In 5 seasons at Missouri, Prepare dinner handed for 9,251 yards, 50 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Accidents and an absence of constant accuracy had been a main purpose Prepare dinner went undrafted. However he has a variety of upside, which is why the Jets signed him to their follow squad.
Given Taylor’s in depth harm historical past, Prepare dinner might take snaps this season, whether or not it’s this week in opposition to the Dolphins or within the Jets’ remaining 4 video games in 2025.
“During this rookie year, I’ve seen big jumps, which is probably normal,” Prepare dinner stated. “You get here, it feels like a lot, you feel like a lot is thrown at you. As the weeks go by and you watch how Tyrod, how Justin go about it. How they learn the offense, how they handle everything, it is becoming a lot smoother.”
