Jets GM happy with the pieces they've put around Justin Fields
Quarterback Justin Fields warms up at Jets practice on Wednesday. Credit: Neil Miller
Darren Mougey feels good about the Jets’ 53-man roster and believes they have surrounded Justin Fields with enough for him to be successful.
“I feel really good about the pieces around him,” Mougey, the Jets’ first-time general manager, said during a Thursday Zoom call. “It starts in the running back room. It starts with Garrett [Wilson] in the wideout room, as well as the tight end room.
“We’ve seen production from all those guys throughout camp, and I look forward to seeing how that evolves and continues to progress throughout the season.”
Mougey didn’t rule out changes being made before the Jets open the season Sept. 7 against Pittsburgh. He’s been very active the last couple of weeks, acquiring defensive tackles Harrison Phillips and Jowon Briggs to shore up that position.
The receiver position, after Wilson, is one of the Jets’ biggest question marks. There is no clear No. 2 option for Fields. It could be running back Breece Hall or rookie tight end Mason Taylor. Hall lined up outside at times in practice and Taylor was an impressive target for Fields throughout camp.
Josh Reynolds might be the de facto No. 2 of the receiver group, given that he knows the system from his time playing for the Lions. The rest of the room consists of Allen Lazard, Xavier Gipson and rookie Arian Smith.
“I like the room as a whole,” Mougey said. “Obviously, it starts with Garrett, and look forward to seeing him this year. He can do it all. And then the pieces that go around him, I think we’ve got pieces that complement each other there.
“We’ve got three guys in Josh Reynolds, Lazard, Tyler Johnson, they’ve all played in the league and had success, bigger bodies. You can move them around. They can block in the run game. Then you got the speed piece with Arian and Gip. Gip’s got speed. He can play inside. We’ll find ways to get him some touches as well. So I feel really good about the room as a whole.”
Johnson was released Wednesday after the Jets claimed big tight end Jelani Woods off waivers, but the Jets brought back Johnson on the practice squad. He could be added to the active roster depending on what happens in the next 10 days or could be elevated on game day.
It would not be surprising if the Jets try to acquire another receiver. They’re trying to make Fields a more complete quarterback who can beat teams with his arm as well as his legs.
The Jets will be a run-first offense. It worked in Detroit, where Aaron Glenn and offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand previously coached.
They believe they have three good backs who complement each other in Hall, Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis, plus the dynamic Fields. The Jets’ offensive line is built for the running game.
Fields has thrown 45 touchdown passes in 44 career starts. He’s had some hiccups this summer with the Jets while learning the system and his new receivers, but Mougey has seen Fields — who was named a captain — make strides.
“I’ve seen him improve every day, and specifically this past week,” Mougey said. “I think we’ve really seen good rhythm out at practice with the offense, a balanced attack, some runs, some pass. But just the overall operation, the command, his leadership, obviously named a captain. So seeing that growth has been really good.”
This was the first time Mougey and Glenn have gone through the process of assembling a team as the main decision-makers. They said they grew closer and have a much stronger bond because of the time they spent working together.
Mougey said he feels “blessed to be around [Glenn] and have him as the head coach of the Jets and work with him daily.” Glenn said their “trust factor is just so high” that it will benefit the franchise.
“You just know you can get out of any situation no matter what,” Glenn said. “That’s one of the things that we pride ourself on as an organization: no matter the situation, man, we can come out all right.”
2025 captains
The Jets’ six captains are Fields, Wilson and Alijah Vera-Tucker on offense, Quinnen Williams and Jamien Sherwood on defense and Marcelino McCrary-Ball on special teams.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
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