On Wednesday morning, Jets HC Aaron Glenn ruled out QB Justin Fields for Sunday's game vs. the Buccaneers and said that veteran Tyrod Taylor is set to lead the Jets' offense. Fields, who started the Jets' first two games this season, sustained a concussion in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss to the Bills when he was sacked by Buffalo edge Joey Bosa. Taylor will get the start in Tampa against the 2-0 Buccaneers.
"When it comes to injuries, one person I can say is out right now would be Justin," Glenn said. "He's still going through his protocol."
Taylor, who has led the Jets to 4 TDs in 5 series over three game appearances in 2024-25, hit on 7-of-11 passes against the Bills for 56 yards. His 5-yard TD pass to TE Jeremy Ruckert closed out the scoring in the 30-10 loss.
"There is no coverage, there is no pressure that he hasn't seen," Glenn said of Taylor. "So that's why I have confidence in him and he's a very studious person, good athlete. Again, been around this league for a long time. There is no better player you would want as your backup quarterback than him at this point of time."
In his limited game action with the Green & White, Taylor has hit on 72.7% of his throws (24 of 33) for 175 yards, 4 TDs and 0 INTs with a 124.4 passer rating. He's also had six 6 carries for 34 yards (5.8 yards/rush.) The 15-year pro, who has a 28-28-1 mark as an NFL starter, was asked about OC Tanner Engstrand's system during training camp.
"I like this system from a quarterback perspective because of the freedom that you have at the line, being able to check in-and-out of plays, getting us to the best plays, and I know you consider that's pretty much a lot of different systems. But this one is just unique in its own way," he said. "The concepts allow us to get the ball out of our hands but also being flexible to change things here and there as well. It's a rhythm offense, and I think from a quarterback perspective, being in rhythm keeps your eyes where they need to be and allows you to listen to your feet."
Taylor will lead the Jets against a Buccaneers team that will play in front of its home fans for the first time this season after securing impressive last-minute road wins over the Falcons in Week 1 and then the Texans on Monday night.
"He's an old wily vet, man," said LG John Simpson this week. "He's been in this game for a long time. He's seen a lot of football. He's been a part of a lot of football. He knows what to do. He's a guy that's prepared for any situation, and a guy that you can count on."
Taylor (36), 6-1, 217, is playing with his seventh NFL team after the Virginia Tech product was selected in the sixth round (No. 180 overall) by Baltimore in the 2011 NFL Draft. He is s a career 61.9% passer who has 69 TD passes and 29 INTs. Taylor has also rushed for 2,302 yards and has 19 scores on the ground. Bucs HC Todd Bowles is known for his creative blitzes and his Tampa Bay unit has posted some impressive early-season numbers, ranking T2 in red zone (25%), No. 7 in third-down efficiency (33.33%) and No. 5 against the run (76.5 yds/g). But the Bucs are also No. 26 in pass yards/play (7.14).
"Every time Tyrod's come in these last couple of years, he's done a good job," Ruckert said. "He's been around a countless number of offenses and played with a ton of great guys, so we got a lot of confidence in him. He does a really good job in practice and just a true professional in every way. So, it's good to have him around the offense whether he's playing or not, and a good thing for the young guys to see and see how to approach every day and, just like I said, be a true professional."
