When New York Jets coach Aaron Glenn benched Justin Fields in Week 7 in favor of former Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor, the winless Jets were looking for any spark in what was spiraling into a dreadful first half of the 2025 season.
After Taylor closed out the game against the Carolina Panthers in a 13-3 loss, Glenn was faced with a question for Week 8 against the Cincinnati Bengals on the road. Would he start Fields or Taylor? The answer to the question was answered for him after Taylor was ruled out with an injury. Fields led New York to its first win of the season in stunning fashion, 39-38, after outscoring Cincy 26-14 in the second half.
New York had a bye week last week and returns to the field on Sunday at home in another winnable game against the Cleveland Browns. It appears that the bye week worked wonders for Taylor, who practiced this week and was not on the Jets' injury report ahead of the Browns game. So, who does Glenn start against Cleveland, Fields, or Taylor?
Jets coach doesn't name starter against Browns
Glenn on Friday said that New York will have a quarterback against Cleveland, but declined to say which one will start.
“We will have a quarterback,” said Glenn. “We will have a quarterback.”
Well, that settles that, the New York Jets will have a quarterback against the Cleveland Browns. Whew. Anyway, Glenn not naming a starter is not surprising, but after Fields led them to their first win two weeks ago, it would be very surprising if he didn't start.
That doesn't mean Taylor doesn't need to be ready. We have seen this year that Fields can fall apart and not play well, which Glenn would be wise to make a quick change. This is a golden opportunity against Cleveland for the Jets to get another win in 2025.