Jets QB Justin Fields looks better with feet than arm at Green and White scrimmage
Jets quarterback Justin Fields throws during training camp at the Atlantic Health Training Center on Saturday in Florham Park, N.J. Credit: Corey Sipkin
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Justin Fields looked shaky as a passer in Saturday’s Green and White scrimmage, completing only two of his 10 passes, holding on to the ball for unhealthily long periods in the pocket and having difficulty finding open targets. The Jets’ starting offense did not score a passing touchdown.
But the quarterback did score a pair of rushing touchdowns that coach Aaron Glenn felt salvaged his performance.
“I think we saw exactly what he’s going to create when it comes to him using his feet,” Glenn said. “There are some balls that we have to catch that he threw to some guys, and there’s some throws he’s got to make too that were out there. I really want to look at the tape to get a real evaluation of that, but just from the naked eye, I thought he did a pretty good job.”
One of Fields’ scores was an iffy one; he darted for a 25-yard gain against a defense that gave a half-hearted effort to stop him out of respect for his red non-contact jersey. His second touchdown, however, was far more legitimate and came on a 10-yard run through traffic to the left on second-and-goal. Tight end Jeremy Ruckert had a key lead block to get Fields into the end zone at the pylon.
Other than those plays, the defense ruled most of the play. Micheal Clemons played a strong edge with some pressures against left tackle Olu Fashanu, Quincy Williams had a sack on a blitz (on which he thumped Fields a little too hard and got an earful from Glenn) and Brandon Stephens broke up a pass from Fields intended for Tyler Johnson.
The starting offense’s only other touchdown came on a 9-yard run by Breece Hall.
“I thought our running backs today did a hell of a job, a hell of a job,” Glenn said.
The unspoken part: If Fields continues to throw the way he did on Saturday, they’re going to need to be.
Jet streams
Glenn said three players suffered injuries during the scrimmage: WR Xavier Gipson (shoulder), CB Kris Byrd (shoulder) and S Jaylin Simpson (hamstring). Simpson was waived/injured after the workout to make room for DB Mario Goodrich, who was claimed off waivers from the Broncos . . . Byrd, who was hurt as a gunner on punt coverage, appeared to be the most serious of the injuries and was carted off the field . . . WR Josh Reynolds was not mentioned by Glenn among the injured, but he did come off the field gingerly toward the end of practice . . . LB Jermaine Johnson remains on PUP despite recently announcing on social media that he had been cleared by doctors. Glenn said Johnson remains on track to be ready for Week 1 . . . In the field goal-kicking period of the scrimmage, Nick Folk was 4-for-5 with a long of 51 yards. Harrison Mevis was 2-for-5 and missed from 44, 48 and 53.
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
