The Jets fell to 0-2 on Sunday and they lost their starting quarterback in the process. Justin Fields is also in danger of missing New York’s Week 3 game. 
Midway through Sunday’s loss against the Bills, Fields hit his head on the turf while being hit immediately after an incompletion. One play later, he was sacked. Fields was then taken to the medical tent for evaluation and brought to the locker room alongside the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant for further concussion tests.
After being evaluated, Fields was ruled out for the remainder of the game. Head coach Aaron Glenn has since confirmed the free agent addition is in the concussion protocol, per Ralph Vacchiano of FOX Sports. Players can sometimes progress through the protocol in time to suit up for the following game. It is far more common, however, for at least one contest to be missed while recovering.
As a result, there is a strong possibility Tyrod Taylor will be counted on to handle starting duties for New York in Week 3. It was Taylor that stepped in for Fields today. An abysmal day for Fields, in which he completed just three of 11 pass attempts for only 27 yards while rushing five times for 49 yards, put Taylor in a tough situation. In the two drives that the veteran was able to put together, it didn’t take much for Taylor to surpass Fields passing total and score the team’s only touchdown of the day, granted Buffalo’s defense probably featured more youth than usual at that point in the game.
The only other name on the team’s roster is practice squad rookie Brady Cook out of Missouri. Cook may get called up the backup Taylor if Fields can’t clear the protocol in time, but Taylor should be the only one we see play. Taylor lasted started a game in the 2023 season, when he won two of five starting opportunities with the Giants. His experience makes him the clear choice over Cook if Fields can’t go.
After home losses to the Steelers and Bills, things don’t get much easier for New York as they hit the road for back-to-back games in Florida against the Buccaneers and Dolphins. With the Jets set to play their third straight playoff team to open the season, hopes will be high that Fields can make it through the protocol in time to play. New York will have Taylor preparing as QB1 in the meantime.
Ely Allen contributed to this post.