FLORHAM PARK, NJ – Justin Fields'first season since New York Jets – and quite possibly his last – has officially ended.
The former starting quarterback was placed on injured reserve Tuesday, an ignominious end to a disappointing season.
Fields, who was benched on Nov. 17, has been bothered by what the team called “knee soreness” in recent weeks. He returned to training last week but told reporters he was still not healthy enough to play. He didn't play the last three games.
“Man, we were trying to figure out how to make it work, but things weren’t going as well as we wanted,” coach Aaron Glenn said. “So we want to focus on that to make sure we cure it.”
In all likelihood, Fields wouldn't have played anyway.
He reported pain two weeks after coming on the bench and has not played since. He was replaced Tyrod Taylorwho was injured in his third start. That led the Jets (3-12) to an undrafted rookie. Brady Cookwho will make his third start against the team on Sunday New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium.
There's a good chance the Jets part ways with Fields this offseason.
former Chicago Bears The first-round pick signed a two-year, $40 million contract as a free agent and was named the starter in the offseason, but he failed to live up to modest expectations.
Fields went 2-7 as a starter, ranking 28th out of 32 qualified passers in total QBR (37.3), below his career mark (45.3). He passed for just 505 yards in his last five starts, prompting Glenn to bench him.
Glenn declined to comment on whether Fields will need surgery. He also wouldn't talk about Fields' future, saying he's focused on New England.
“Any player who doesn't have the season we want is always disappointing,” Glenn said. “I don't want to focus just on Justin – and I know that's the question that gets asked – but any player we have high hopes for and the season doesn't go the way we want, we're always disappointed by that.”
Fields should count on $23 million against the cap for 2026, including $20 million in salary (10 million guaranteed). If the Jets cut him, that would be $22 million in dead money that could be stretched over two years if he is cut after June 1st.
The Jets could opt to completely reload the quarterback, which could mean adding a veteran and a rookie.
On November 26, Fields raised eyebrows when asked whether he would be open to a small package of plays as the Wildcat quarterback – a way to capitalize on his speed. Fields said there had been discussions about using him in the role, but he told reporters he had “mixed feelings” about it.
He said he wanted to be a team player, but expressed concern about the possibility of injury, saying he would be prone to soft tissue injuries due to hypothermia. He noted that he “is not yet as healthy as I would like right now.” He was placed on the one-week list with a knee injury in October; it didn't cost him any practice time.
Fields, 26, missed Week 3 with a concussion but returned to start the next seven games. Glenn was prepared to bench him in Week 8—the same week owner Woody Johnson publicly criticized Fields—but the coach stayed with him because Taylor was out with a knee injury that flared up late in the week.
Fields responded with his best game of the season, throwing for 244 yards in a comeback win over Cincinnati Bengalsbut from there it was all downhill.
