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 out and Tyrod Taylor is in, a league source said on Monday. Taylor, 36, will lead the offense on Sunday when the Jets play the Baltimore Ravens.

This 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, but he hinted that a change could be forthcoming.

Following the Jets’ loss to New England on Thursday night, Glenn said, “I’m evaluating everything” when asked if he might make a quarterback 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 1,259 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 or fewer yards 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.

Tight end Jeremy Ruckert, a Lindenhurst native who also was Fields’ teammate at Ohio State, doesn’t know why the offense has struggled and remains in Fields’ corner.

“I take it personal; all the hate, all the talking that goes towards him,” Ruckert said. “I take it personal because I'm one of the guys that takes the field with him and wish we could do a better job to help him out.

“He's just a true professional, like I say every day. Not going to change how I feel about him and I'm sure he'll be ready to go when his time comes.”

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 has financial drawbacks.

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 a $35 million dead-money charge in 2026 from Aaron Rodgers’ release.

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

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 at Tampa Bay with Fields out with a concussion. Taylor completed 26 of 36 passes for 197 yards and a touchdown and two turnovers. In three games, Taylor is 43-for-69 for 379 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions.

The well-respected Taylor began his career with the Ravens in 2011. He’s also played for Buffalo, Cleveland, the Chargers, Texans and Giants, compiling 12,633 passing yards, 71 touchdowns and 32 interceptions in 97 games.

Defensive tackle Harrison Phillips said it’s been “super impressive” seeing Taylor work and how he approaches and prepares each week.

“There's no way he'd been able to still be doing this at a high level if he didn't take that approach every day,” Phillips said. “We definitely feel comfortable with him going out there and leading our team.”

Two-minute drill

The Jets signed veteran defensive tackle Khalen Saunders, who has 184 tackles and 6 ½ sacks in 70 games with Kansas City, New Orleans and Jacksonville . . . Linebacker and special teams captain Marcelino McCrary-Ball (hamstring) has been designated to return to practice from injured  reserve.

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.