Jets QB options: Kirk Cousins, Carson Wentz among choices after Justin Fields injury
Justin Fields learned that the hard way on Thursday morning. The quarterback was carted off the field during the team's second practice of training camp, which head coach Aaron Glenn later revealed to be a toe injury.
Glenn didn't know the severity of the issue, so it's unclear how much time Fields will miss – if any.
While Jets fans can seemingly breathe a sigh of relief for now, it's the unfortunate reminder of just how fragile an NFL season can be. It's been over seven months since the Jets played a football game that counted in the standings and the next season could've ended in the blink of an eye with a bad injury to the wrong player.
In our fast-paced world, people will undoubtedly wonder what comes next.
Whether Fields has to miss time or not, it's important to evaluate the options that are available if the quarterback will be forced out of action for any length of time.
Jets QB options
Taylor is the logical, and probably best, choice to step in for Fields. He has plenty of starting experience and signed to be the Jets' backup ahead of the 2024 season. As the clear QB2 on the depth chart, Taylor should get the first crack at the job.
Behind Taylor on the depth chart are unproven players Adrian Martinez and Brady Cook. Martinez has only spent time in the NFL as a camp body and practice squad passer. Cook was signed as an undrafted free agent this offseason.
There could be some bad blood between Cousins and the Jets, even though the old front office and coaching staff are no longer employed by the team. It's unclear whether they would actually pursue this option, but Cousins is the best quarterback that could be available via trade.
There's a lot of money on the table for the guy that just signed with the Atlanta Falcons last offseason, however, and pressing this button may be a bit premature.
The best of the free agent quarterback options, Wentz is far removed from his days of being an MVP candidate with the Philadelphia Eagles. While he didn't play in the New York market, he is familiar with the region thanks to his time with the Birds and comes with plenty of starting experience.
Serving as the backup for Patrick Mahomes in 2024 is an added bonus and maybe he can recapture the magic that made him a tantalizing talent early in his career.
Conventional wisdom suggests that the Jets and Giants wouldn't make a trade given their status as roommates. However, these teams have done business before as the Jets dealt Leonard Williams to the Giants in 2019.
Winston is already relegated to a backup role behind Russell Wilson for Big Blue and Jaxson Dart is waiting in the wings. The Giants could benefit from cleaning up their quarterback room and Winston is someone that has played plenty of football over the years. It's a move that would make sense for both sides.
All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
NFL players, employees fined for selling Super Bowl tickets: reports
More than 100 NFL players and dozens of club employees are to be fined or suspended for selling their allocations of tickets for this year's Super Bowl on secondary markets, US media reported on Friday. ESPN reported that players who sold allotted tickets will be fined one-and-a-half times the face value of the tickets sold and be barred from receiving tickets to the next two editions of the Super Bowl. Players amongst those caught will be given the option of purchasing tickets if their team reaches the Super Bowl in 2026 or 2027. Players who decline to pay the fines face being suspended, ESPN cited league and union sources as saying. ESPN quoted an NFL memo sent to teams which said employees and players had sold tickets to "bundlers" working with a ticket resale site. Tickets to the Super Bowl are consistently one of the hottest -- and most expensive -- tickets in North American sport, fetching as much as $10,000 on resale sites. "Our initial investigation has determined that a number of NFL players and coaches, employed by several NFL Clubs, sold Super Bowl tickets for more than the ticket's face value in violation of the policy," NFL chief compliance officer Sabrina Perel wrote in the memo. Perel cited "long-standing league policy" which "prohibits League or club employees, including players, from selling NFL game tickets acquired from their employer for more than the ticket's face value or for an amount greater than the employee originally paid for the ticket, whichever is less." Perel added that the league will enhance mandatory training before Super Bowl LX for all league personnel to emphasize the rules and "the broader principle that no one should profit personally from their NFL affiliation at the expense of our fans." The league, meanwhile, also planned to improve training to avoid a repeat, with the possibility of stiffer sanctions for future offenses. "No one should profit personally from their NFL affiliation at the expense of our fans," Perel wrote in the memo. rcw/js
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
With new contract, Ja'Marr Chase already playing hard at Bengals training camp
CINCINNATI (AP) — Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase didn't participate in training camp last year as he tried to negotiate a contract extension. While he went on to become the sixth wide receiver in the Super Bowl era to lead the league in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches in the same season, Chase still felt like he missed something by not being a part of practices leading up to the first week of the season. 'I love to work,' Chase said. 'I'm a workaholic. I love to work. Joe asked me today, am I tired? I said, 'Call the play while I'm tired.' At the end of the day, when it's the fourth quarter and I'm tired, they're not going to ask me if I'm tired. It's all about how hard you can push yourself at the end of the day, especially on days like this. As long as you get 1% better each day, that's how you improve.' Chase was present at all of training camp last year, but he watched it from the sideline as a part of a hold-in. He went on to receive the lucrative contract he was looking for in March, but he bet on himself entering 2024 and played on his rookie contract. He only received a few last-minute practice reps leading into the first week of the 2024 season. While he started a bit slow, Chase still had a terrific season. He was a unanimous All-Pro last season, finishing the year with 127 receptions for 1,708 receiving yards as well as 17 receiving touchdowns. But Chase's two worst games of the season were the first two weeks. That included an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in Week 2 at Kansas City after he thought a penalty should have been called for a hip-drop tackle on him. 'I had great legs last year,' Chase said. 'Like I said, I love to work. At the end of the day, I get to work on stuff that I didn't work on last year and getting that real feel from the (defensive back) and working on certain things that I wanted to do this year. I get a chance to do it in camp now instead of just doing it in games.' Chase has been an active receiver and target of quarterback Joe Burrow during the first two training camp practices. 'There's a reason you're All-Pro at the end of the day and one of the best in the league,' Chase said. 'So you're supposed to have on and off switch and go out and do it.' This season, as All-Pro defensive end Trey Hendrickson enters the final year of his contract, he's in a similar position as Chase was last season. Unlike Chase, Hendrickson isn't present on the sidelines at Bengals practices. Hendrickson is working out in Florida as he tries to negotiate a new contract. 'I don't really know much about what Trey got going on in his situation,' Chase said. 'I'm not in his situation anymore. I'm sure everyone wants to be treated the same. That's the hard part with stuff like this. End of the day, it's not really him making the decision. I just wish the best for him and hope he pulls it off.' ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Justin Jefferson injury update: Vikings star WR suffers hamstring strain
The Minnesota Vikings find themselves in somewhat of a transition season and it's already off to rough start. On Friday, head coach Kevin O'Connell revealed the star receiver Justin Jefferson suffered a mild hamstring strain that is set to keep him out of practice. The team will reevaluate Jefferson next week, but it's unclear how long he will be sidelined as a result. Veterans just reported to Vikings training camp on July 22. Jefferson has been around the NFL block a few times, so his absence isn't particularly concerning other than the nature of hamstring injuries – which have a tendency to be pesky. The real concern, however, is for the chemistry that the team is looking to develop on offense. J.J. McCarthy, the team's first-round pick in 2024, missed his entire rookie season thanks to a torn meniscus in his right knee. While Sam Darnold filled in admirably for the 14-3 Vikings, Minnesota made the quarterback switch over the offseason to the former Michigan man. It will be difficult for McCarthy to get on the same page with Jefferson without those valuable practice reps, but the star receiver is seemingly quarterback-proof. That will be put to the test if Jefferson is sidelined for a significant length of time. How long is Justin Jefferson out? Jefferson will be out for at least a week. The Vikings will reevaluate him after that and determine if he can be cleared for a return to practice at that time. Given the nature of the injury, the receiver will likely be eased back into action once he is ale to return. Vikings WR depth chart Here's a look at the Vikings' depth chart at receiver without Jefferson: Jordan Addison Jalen Nailor Rondale Moore Tai Felton Tim Jones This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Justin Jefferson injury: Updates on Vikings star WR's hamstring
