Jets QB Justin Fields, back at practice, looks promising after Thursday's scare
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Justin Fields jogged onto the practice field without a limp on Friday morning and looked as if he could have taken some reps if the Jets had allowed him to do so.
This was an encouraging sign after Thursday’s scare when Fields was carted off the field midway through practice. It led to widespread panic among Jets fans on social media until further evaluation revealed that Fields suffered a dislocated toe on his right foot after being stepped on by a teammate and is day-to-day.
“The huge storm that was created really made no sense,” Aaron Glenn said after practice Friday. “I think that’s a lesson for all of us; let’s just wait until we get the diagnosis. I will not BS you. I will tell you exactly what it is and we’ll move on.”
The reaction to Fields leaving the field on a cart was understandable, given the history of the franchise and recently the starting quarterback position. Aaron Rodgers missed all of the 2023 season after tearing an Achilles tendon early in the Week 1 game. Zach Wilson was sidelined multiple games with injuries in his first two seasons as a Jet.
Glenn said he initially was worried when Fields, whom the Jets signed to a two-year, $40 million contract in March, suffered the injury. But his focus at the time was making sure that backup Tyrod Taylor was ready to step into the starting role.
“As a coach, man, you got to get the next guy ready and get ready to go,” Glenn said. “Now, I’m not saying that I wasn’t concerned. Obviously, you’re going to be concerned about all your players that have an injury. But at that point in time, we got to practice, we got to continue to operate like we have to operate.”
Fields moved well during warmups on Friday, doing all the pre-practice stretching and conditioning exercises. He became a spectator after that and watched Taylor, Adrian Martinez and Brady Cook run the offense.
“It meant a lot to us,” Taylor said. “Him being on the field brings good energy to the team. He’s one of our leaders. Him not being hurt for a long time is also good news as well too.
“Seeing him energized and back on the field ready to compete, I’m sure he would have went today if it was up to him. That’s the competitor that he is. It was good to have him out there.”
Fields seemed to be itching to do more on Friday, which Glenn expected and appreciated.
“That’s who Justin is,” he said. “I’d rather have a guy that I have to hold back than have to tell him to giddyup.”
The Jets are going to play it smart with Fields and make sure he’s feeling much better and full-go before he returns to practice. The regular season is just over six weeks away.
Glenn, general manager Darren Mougey, the medical staff and Fields will meet and come to a collective decision on when he will come back.
“It is early, but also we want to make sure we get as many reps as we can with him,” Glenn said. “When he’s ready to come back, we’ll make sure he’s out on the field, he’s going to get those reps. He’s going to be in meetings, he’s going to be in all those things. But for the most part, we’re going to work together and make sure it’s collaborative as far as when he gets back on the field.”
One of Fields’ strengths is his mobility and ability to run. Glenn doesn’t believe he will be limited at all from that aspect once the doctors clear him to return. The Jets just have to hope one of his teammates doesn’t step on Fields’ toe again.
“If Justin gets back to practice, that means he’s ready to go,” Glenn said. “He’s going to be himself, and I’m not going to hold him back from being him. Now the thing is, we don’t want anybody to step on the toe. But he has to be himself when he’s out there.
“I try to make sure practice emulates game as much as possible. So I want him to be himself as we go through practice.”
Jet streams
Glenn emphasized situational football — red-zone offense and defense and two-minute drill — in the 11-on-11 team periods Friday. The offense moved the football, but practice ended when Taylor was picked off by former Valley Stream resident Andre Cisco in the end zone.
“The only thing that I’d take back is the decision that I made on the last play,” Taylor said. “Other than that, I think we did a bunch of good.”
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
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