Justin Fields vs Tyrod Taylor: NY Jets take final call; make massive move vs Panthers

The New York Jets made a major in-game switch on Sunday, handing the reins to veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor after Justin Fields struggled

Published on: Oct 20, 2025, 01:54:10 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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The New York Jets made a major in-game switch on Sunday, handing the reins to veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor after Justin Fields struggled through another frustrating first half against the Carolina Panthers. Trailing 10-3 at MetLife, head coach Aaron Glenn decided to pull Fields all of a sudden. Fans, however, were happy with the decision.

New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields (7) watches from the sidelines during the fourth quarter against the Carolina Panthers (AP)

The Jets' offense has been struggling for some time. In London last week, Fields and co scored only 11 points, following up a dismal three-point outing the week before.

Both games featured late-half mismanagement and a visible lack of urgency from Fields, who has borne the brunt of criticism for the team’s offensive woes.

Despite defending his quarterback earlier in the week, Glenn’s patience appeared to wear thin.

“He’s just got to go out there, play quarterback, and do the best that he can,” Glenn said prior to the game, emphasizing the need for Fields to trust his arm against man coverage.

The coach admitted that Fields ‘took a step back’ in a loss to Denver but praised him for quickly moving on.

Fields’ numbers tell the story. According to Pro Football Focus, his average depth of target (7.4 yards) ranks 32nd out of 41 starting quarterbacks this season, while his average time to throw (3.2 seconds) is the second-longest in the league, trailing only Jacoby Brissett of Arizona.

Taylor, who has started for multiple teams over his career, now steps in to stabilize an offense that desperately needs direction. For Sunday’s game, the Jets dressed only two active quarterbacks, Fields and Taylor, with Brady Cook remaining on the practice squad.

It is unclear if Fields will get another shot this season.

New York Jets depth chart

OFFENSE

WR: Garrett Wilson, Arian Smith

TE: Jeremy Ruckert, Stone Smartt

LT: Olu Fashanu, Max Mitchell, Esa Pole

LG: John Simpson, Xavier Newman

C: Josh Myers, Xavier Newman

RG: Joe Tippmann, Xavier Newman

RT: Armand Membou, Chukwuma Okorafor

TE: Mason Taylor, Jelani Woods

WR: Josh Reynolds, Allen Lazard, Tyler Johnson

QB: Justin Fields, Tyrod Taylor

FB: Andrew Beck

RB: Breece Hall, Isaiah Davis, Kene Nwangwu, Khalil Herbert

DEFENSE

EDGE: Will McDonald IV, Tyler Baron

DL: Quinnen Williams, Jay Tufele

DL: Harrison Phillips, Jowon Briggs

EDGE: Jermaine Johnson, Micheal Clemons, Braiden McGregor

LB: Cam Jones, Mykal Walker

LB: Jamien Sherwood

LB: Kiko Mauigoa

NB: Michael Carter II, Isaiah Oliver, Jarvis Brownlee Jr.

CB: Sauce Gardner, Qwan'tez Stiggers

CB: Brandon Stephens, Azareye'h Thomas, Jarvis Brownlee Jr.

S: Andre Cisco, Isaiah Oliver

S: Tony Adams, Malachi Moore

SPECIAL TEAMS

K: Nick Folk

P: Austin McNamara

H: Austin McNamara

PR: Khalil Herbert, Isaiah Davis

KR: Kene Nwangwu, Isaiah Davis, Khalil Herbert

LS: Thomas Hennessy

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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