With four games remaining, the Jets find themselves in a quarterback conundrum.
Starter Tyrod Taylor injured his groin during the first quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Dolphins.
Justin Fields, who was backing up Taylor following his benching last month, is also dealing with some knee soreness and was inactive against Miami. Because of that, undrafted free agent Brady Cook, who was elevated from the practice squad, may be in line to start Sunday’s game against the Jaguars.
However, Jets coach Aaron Glenn didn’t provide any clarification on the situation when pressed during Monday’s press conference.
“That’s the tough part about this job,” Glenn said. “This job is meant for tough people and you have to make decisions on the fly every now and then and this is just one of those times we have to make a decision. We gotta see how the guys are feeling, have a good conversation with those guys, have a good conversation with the docs.
“No one said it was gonna be easy. Even as an assistant coach, I haven’t seen a situation like this. But it is what it is. I have full confidence in our guys and if they say they’re ready to go, they’ll be ready to go.”
Taylor made his third start of the season against the Dolphins. But he played only two series before leaving the game after injuring his groin following a first-quarter interception to Tyrel Dodson. That forced Cook into the game, with Miami already leading 21-0.
Cook finished the game, completing 14-of-30 passes for 163 yards with two interceptions and was sacked six times in his first NFL action. He very much looked like a rookie undrafted free-agent QB after missing several throws and even having trouble taking snaps under center.
It also didn’t help Cook that his receivers dropped six passes.
“Once he kind of settled down, he came in and was poised,” Jets guard John Simpson said about Cook. “He kind of demanded the attention of the huddle. He was ready for the moment, in my opinion.
“Obviously, we have things to improve on as an offense. But overall, I feel like the way he came in, and I feel like his confidence in the huddle, you could definitely see it for sure.”
Sunday marked the third time Cook was elevated from the practice squad this season after he was the backup in games against the Bucs and Bengals. Practice squad players can be elevated a maximum of three times per season. A fourth elevation will require Cook to be signed to the 53-man roster.
But that will depend on the status of Fields, who has not played since the Jets’ Nov. 13 loss to the Patriots. In that game, Fields finished 15-of-26 for 116 yards with one touchdown pass.
But the Jets have the worst passing offense in the NFL (146.5) and a lot of that is because of Fields’ struggles as a passer. He ranks 29th out of 31 passers in QBR (38.2).
When asked if he would go back to Fields after benching him, Glenn told reporters that he will play the guy who gives the Jets the best chance to win.
“Listen, these guys are all professionals and anytime they have a chance to go out and perform with their teammates, that’s the only thing they think about,” Glenn said. “That’s the only thing I think about, what decision do I have to make to give this team the best chance to win.
“We don’t play mind games with players like that. You know, these guys are professionals, and they work their asses off week in and week out. My job is to make sure that with this team, I give them the best chance to win. Whichever quarterback we have that’s ready to go, that guy will be ready to go.”
Whoever the quarterback is against Jacksonville, help could potentially be on the way. Wide receiver Garrett Wilson is eligible to come off injured reserve this week. He was placed on IR on Nov. 13 after injuring his right knee in a win against the Browns four days earlier.
However, considering the Jets are 3-10 and have been eliminated from postseason contention for the 15th straight year, there might not be any incentive to bring Wilson back with four games remaining, considering he has injured his knee twice this season.
But Glenn says he will speak with the doctors and Wilson before making a decision.
