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Wealthy Cimini
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — For the New York Jets, who’ve suffered main quarterback setbacks for quite a lot of causes over time, there was a way of aid Thursday once they realized that Justin Fields‘ toe injury from practice is not a full-blown catastrophe.
In 2023, Aaron Rodgers ruptured his left Achilles on the fourth snap of the season. In 2021, Zach Wilson injured his proper knee on a pre-season scramble and wanted surgical procedure. In 2019, Sam Darnold contracted mononucleosis in Week 2. In 2015, Geno Smith suffered a jaw fracture after being punched by a teammate in a locker-room fracas.
Fields, however, was mentioned to have “prevented critical harm and vital missed time,” the workforce mentioned in an announcement, calling it a dislocated toe and itemizing him as day-to-day. That is excellent news for a franchise accustomed to the choice. Name it the silver lining.
Now for the not-so-silver lining: Fields will miss precious training-camp reps, which may hamper his development within the new offense, which, in flip, may stunt the general improvement of the unit.
It is dependent upon how lengthy he is sidelined. Will it’s just a few days? Every week? Two weeks? Know this: The Jets can be cautious with their QB1. It is nonetheless very early in coaching camp and there isn’t any motive to power the problem.
Just a few days on the shelf just isn’t an enormous deal, however something past that could possibly be regarding for a participant equivalent to Fields, who’s studying a brand new playbook after signing a two-year, $40 million contract in March, hasn’t performed lots of soccer over the previous 12 months. He began the primary six video games (going 4-2) final season for the Pittsburgh Steelers whereas Russell Wilson handled a calf harm.
Then, a wholesome Fields needed to watch Wilson take over for the remainder of the season — beginning with that Week 7 sport in opposition to none apart from the Jets — earlier than leaving as a free agent within the offseason.
Fields wants the work. His teammates want the work with him at quarterback. The coaches must see him in motion to get a really feel for what he can and may’t do.
All that’s on maintain now.
One factor to observe: The harm occurred on his plant foot, which absorbs the stress of his weight when he drops again to throw.
The well-traveled Tyrod Taylor, 35, will slide into the starter’s function till Fields is able to return. Taylor is without doubt one of the most revered gamers within the locker room, a veteran of 58 profession begins. He is most likely a greater pure passer than Fields, however he isn’t Fields — and the group has made it abundantly clear that Fields is The Man. That declaration was made in March, eliminating any query about its dedication to him.
On Wednesday, coach Aaron Glenn mentioned of Fields, “He needs to be good, he expects to be good, and I anticipate him to be good. I simply stay up for how he is continued to function in these camps day-by-day as a result of I feel he’ll be a great one.”
Life strikes quick within the NFL.
On Thursday, Glenn mentioned, “We now have an excellent backup in Tyrod, who’s been on this league for round 14 years. So the management that he brings — hear, we’re all good. We’re all good.”
Give credit score to the first-year coach for deftly dealing with his first dose of adversity, displaying the form of management required for a franchise that has endured lots of arduous occasions. Glenn has a powerful will, however he cannot will his offense to have higher chemistry if the beginning quarterback is in a strolling boot.
Everyone knows Fields has a powerful rapport with vast receiver Garrett Wilson, his outdated Ohio State teammate, however he is nonetheless studying the opposite receivers equivalent to Josh Reynolds and Allen Lazard. Coaching camp is the time when these on-field bonds are strengthened.
There’s additionally the matter of scheme. Sure, Taylor will function the identical system as Fields, however they’re totally different quarterbacks stylistically.
With Fields below heart, they’ll capitalize on his distinctive working capability by utilizing RPOs (run-pass choices), freezing defenders and creating lanes for his or her working backs. Taylor, regardless of his age, nonetheless can run, however he is extra of a dropback passer at this stage of his profession.
Once more: The information may’ve been so much worse. There was social-media panic amongst Jets’ followers round 9:25 a.m., when stories of Fields limping off the sector began to flow into. This can be a fan base conditioned to anticipate the worst.
However this time, the Jets prevented calamity — or so it seems.