Jets making QB change, benching Justin Fields for Tyrod Taylor, source says

The Jets are making a quarterback change, a move that many consider is long overdue.

Justin Fields is being stripped of his starting job, a league source said on Monday. Veteran Tyrod Taylor will take over this week and lead the offense on Sunday when the Jets play the Ravens.

This move doesn’t come as a surprise. The Jets are 2-8 and their offense, and particularly their passing game, has underperformed all season. They rank last in the NFL, averaging 139.9 passing yards per game.

Aaron Glenn was not available for comment on Monday. The Jets' first-year coach will address the media before Wednesday’s practice.

The Jets are coming off a mini-bye after playing in New England last Thursday night. Following that game, Glenn said, “I’m evaluating everything” when asked if he might make a QB switch. Fields passed for 116 yards and a touchdown in the 27-14 loss.

“I want to make the decision to give us a chance to win,” Glenn said last week. “Whatever that evaluation process comes out to, just know that, that the reason why I make decisions that I make is because it gives us the best chance to win.”

Glenn hand-picked Fields to lead this team, signing him to a two-year contract with $30 million guaranteed. It hasn’t worked out as Glenn and his offensive coaches expected.

The Jets believed they could turn Fields — who is playing for his third team in three seasons — into a complete quarterback. Fields’ strength is his mobility and ability to run, but he hasn’t developed into the passer the Jets thought.

Fields has thrown for 1,239 yards and seven touchdowns in nine games. They’re the fewest passing yards for any quarterback with nine starts this season and second-fewest touchdowns. Fields leads the Jets with four rushing touchdowns, though.

Over his last five games, Fields has thrown for 54 yards or less three times and has done that four times this season. They are his four lowest passing games in 53 career starts. It’s not sustainable to win in the NFL without a passing attack.

It’s not yet known whether Fields will be Taylor’s backup or if rookie Brady Cook will be elevated from the practice squad to the No. 2 role. Eventually, the Jets may want to see what Cook can do and if the Missouri  product can be a part of their future. Fields won’t be but cutting him in the offseason would be costly.

Fields has $10 million guaranteed owed to him next year — a cap hit of $23 million. Cutting him would reduce that by $1 million, but the Jets would take on $22 million in dead money. They already have $35 million in dead money in 2026 from Aaron Rodgers’ release.

Either way, the Jets, who have five first-round picks in the next two drafts, will be looking for another potential franchise quarterback.

Fields nearly lost his starting job three games ago. He was benched at halftime of the Jets’ Week 7 loss to Carolina and replaced by Taylor. A quarterback change was expected, but Taylor missed the following game against the Bengals with a knee injury.

The Jets won in Cincinnati with Fields arguably having his best game of the season — just days after owner Woody Johnson publicly criticized him.

Taylor, 36, will get his second start of the season. He started the Jets’ Week 3 loss in Tampa with Fields out with a concussion. Taylor completed 26 of 36 passes for 197 yards and a touchdown and turned the ball over twice.

In three games this season, Taylor is 43-for-69 for 379 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions.

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.