“Hello darkness, my old friend.”
That’s a lyric to Disturbed’s tune, ‘The Sound of Silence,’ but it surely could possibly be the theme of the Jets’ 2025 season.
The Jets haven’t performed complementary soccer in any of their seven video games this season, which is why they discover themselves 0-7 and the one winless group within the NFL. Identical to final week in opposition to the Broncos, the Jets’ protection did its half, however the offense was as soon as once more lifeless in opposition to the Panthers.
Within the 13-6 loss to Carolina, Justin Fields accomplished simply 6-of-12 passes for 46 yards earlier than Jets coach Aaron Glenn benched him for Tyrod Taylor to start out the second half. Nevertheless it didn’t matter as a result of the Jets had been solely in a position to muster two Nick Folks discipline targets offensively.
Regardless of the change at halftime, Glenn isn’t prepared to call a starter for subsequent weekend’s sport in opposition to the Bengals.
“When it goes to next week, I’m not ready to sit here and say what’s going on with our quarterbacks,” Glenn stated. “I’ll say this, it’s one thing I should have a look at.
Glenn should weigh whether or not the Jets’ passing sport can lastly taxi off the runway with Fields or in the event that they flip to veteran Taylor, who has been the group’s backup for 2 seasons. They haven’t scored an offensive landing because the fourth quarter of their loss to the Cowboys in Week 5.
“How do I explain it?” Fields stated in regards to the landing drought. “Well, we didn’t get in the end zone. But there’s no explanation, to be honest with you. It’s as simple as we just haven’t played well enough.”
The Jets launched Aaron Rodgers in March to signal Fields, 26, to a two-year, $40 million contract. They had been hoping he may grow to be their Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold, quarterbacks who revived their careers in several groups that drafted them.
However exterior of his Week 1 loss in opposition to the Steelers, wherein he handed for 218 yards and one landing, Fields’ play has been downright dreadful.
Though he hasn’t thrown an interception this season, Fields has struggled with accuracy and holding onto the ball too lengthy contained in the pocket. In the course of the Week 6 loss in opposition to the Broncos in London, Fields accomplished 9-of-17 passes for 45 yards and was sacked 9 instances. The Jets, with Fields underneath heart, registered -10 internet passing yards in opposition to Denver.
Coming into the week, Fields acknowledged he has held the ball too lengthy contained in the pocket and vowed to be extra aggressive in opposition to the Panthers, however his play resembled lots of his begins this season. In his final 5 begins, Fields has thrown for 627 yards and three touchdowns and is finishing simply 61.9% of his passes. Opposing groups aren’t even petrified of the Jets passing sport with Fields underneath heart and they’ll put eight or 9 defenders on the line of scrimmage.
Glenn has additionally defended Fields after he was criticized for not making a quarterback change in opposition to the Broncos.
“I can’t be mad at the decision,” Fields stated. “I perceive why. It’s life, it’s soccer. I’ve realized to not take something personally.
“Coach AG [Glenn], I think he wanted to see if there was a spark. But like I told you guys earlier in the week, I’m about to just be real right now, I’ve always asked God to give me an opportunity and a platform to spread his word and sometimes it doesn’t play out the way you always plan it. I’ve been through a lot in my career, especially in my NFL career, my college career. God’s been with me through the ups and downs, and I’m probably at a low right now and I think the old me would feel some certain type of way, but it’s just now like my faith is so rooted in Christ to where it’s like, like I told you guys earlier this week, nothing can break me.”
Glenn had no alternative however to go along with Taylor to start the second half. The group is determined to get its first win of 2025, however Taylor additionally struggled to get a lot going within the passing sport. He completed the sport 10-of-22 passes for 126 yards with two interceptions, each to Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn.
Taylor, 36, has been a journeyman all through his 15-year profession. He additionally isn’t afraid to throw the ball down the sphere to offer his receivers an opportunity to catch, even in tight protection. Taylor began in Week 3 in opposition to the Buccaneers for Fields, who was out as a result of a concussion he suffered the earlier week in opposition to the Payments.
The Jets got here into Sunday’s sport in opposition to Carolina averaging 279.8 yards per sport, which was the twenty ninth greatest within the NFL. In addition they averaged 144.2 passing yards per sport, which was lifeless final.
“As a competitor, you always want to start, but that’s not my decision,” Taylor stated about probably beginning subsequent week. “Nor will I really feel any manner emotionally about no matter coach chooses to determine.
“I’ll be ready for the opportunity, but I’m also here to support Justin as well, too. I got a lot of respect for him and every guy in this locker room, so I’m here to do what I need to do when my number is called.”
Regardless of who was again there underneath heart, the Jets’ offensive line wants to enhance. Carolina registered six sacks mixed after coming into the sport with simply 5 in six video games, which was the fewest complete within the league.
Of their final two video games, the Jets offensive line has given up 15 sacks.
“Same as last week, we don’t want to do that at all,” Jets offensive lineman John Simpson stated. “We gotta be higher and it begins with me.
“I’m supposed to be the older guy on the line and a leader, so I gotta be better in that standpoint.”
