Rich CiminiDec 23, 2025, 05:46 PM ETCloseRich Cimini is a staff writer who covers the New York Jets and the NFL at ESPN. Rich has covered the Jets for over 30 years, joining ESPN in 2010. Rich also hosts the Flight Deck podcast. He previously was a beat writer for the New York Daily News and is a graduate of Syracuse University.Follow on X
QB Fields’ season over with Jets future uncertain (0:45)QB Fields’ season over with Jets future uncertain (0:45)
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Justin Fields’ first season with the New York Jets — and, quite possibly, his last — is officially over.
The former starting quarterback was placed on injured reserve Tuesday, an ignominious cap to a disappointing season.
Fields, who was benched Nov. 17, has been bothered in recent weeks by what the team called knee “soreness.” He returned to practice last week but told reporters that he still wasn’t healthy enough to play. He was inactive for the past three games.
“Man, we tried to see how we can get this to work, but it wasn’t getting as better as we would like it,” coach Aaron Glenn said. “So, we want to make sure we get a focus on that to make sure we get him better.”
He reported soreness two weeks after his benching and hasn’t played since. He was replaced by Tyrod Taylor, who got hurt in his third start. That led the Jets (3-12) to undrafted rookie Brady Cook, who will make his third start Sunday against the New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium.
The former Chicago Bears first-round pick signed a two-year, $40 million contract in free agency and was named the starter in the offseason, but he fell short of modest expectations.
Fields went 2-7 as the starter, ranking 28th out of 32 qualified passers in Total QBR (37.3) — below his career mark (45.3). He passed for only 505 yards in his past five starts, prompting Glenn to bench him.
Glenn declined to comment on whether Fields will need surgery. He also wouldn’t address Fields’ future, saying he’s focused on New England.
“Any player that doesn’t have the season that we would like for them to have, it’s always disappointing,” Glenn said. “I don’t want to just focus on Justin with this — and I know that’s the question asked — but any player that we have high hopes for and the season don’t go the way we want to go, we’re always disappointed with that.”
Fields is due to count $23 million on the 2026 cap, including $20 million in salary ($10 million guaranteed). There would be $22 million in dead money if the Jets cut him, which can be spread over two years if he’s designated as a post-June 1 cut.
The Jets might opt for a complete reset at quarterback, which could mean adding a veteran and a rookie.
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 was publicly critical of 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 the Cincinnati Bengals, but it was downhill from there.
QB Fields’ season over with Jets future uncertain (0:45)QB Fields’ season over with Jets future uncertain (0:45)
CloseRich Cimini is a staff writer who covers the New York Jets and the NFL at ESPN. Rich has covered the Jets for over 30 years, joining ESPN in 2010. Rich also hosts the Flight Deck podcast. He previously was a beat writer for the New York Daily News and is a graduate of Syracuse University.Follow on X
In all likelihood, Fields wouldn’t have played anyway.
There’s a good chance the Jets will part ways with Fields in the offseason.
QB Fields’ season over with Jets future uncertain (0:45)