FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The winless New York Jets are handling their quarterback situation like some of their recent two-minute drills: They’re taking their time.
Saying he wants to create a competitive advantage, coach Aaron Glenn declined to name his starter Wednesday. The decision is made, Glenn said, but he evidently wants to keep the Cincinnati Bengals guessing between Justin Fields and Tyrod Taylor.
Taylor, whom sources said is the favorite, showed up on the injury report with a knee ailment, but he participated in the early portion of practice. He’s day-to-day, according to Glenn.
Glenn’s non-announcement came one day after owner Woody Johnson publicly criticized Fields, essentially blaming him for the team’s 0-7 start. If Glenn benches Fields, it will create the perception that Johnson is calling the shots.
That isn’t the case, Glenn insisted.
“Woody leaves that all up to me,” the coach said.
Johnson’s stinging remarks, made to reporters at the NFL’s fall meeting in New York, put Glenn in an awkward position. He downplayed it, saying, “He’s our owner and he has a right to his opinion.”
He also said Johnson was basically amplifying what he and many others have said about the Jets’ inept offense, which has gone two games without a touchdown.
“We just said in a different tone and a different way,” Glenn said. “So I’m glad we’re on the same page on that, even with our quarterbacks. So we’re just fine with that.”
Of course, criticism resonates more when it comes from the owner.
Glenn didn’t dismiss Johnson’s comments. He said he addressed the matter in the team meeting. He also met privately with Fields, who struggled in six starts and was pulled at halftime of Sunday’s 13-6 loss to the Carolina Panthers.
“He made a comment, and he has every right to his comment,” Glenn said of Johnson. “That comment was actually said by a number of guys, including our quarterback, as far as the efficiency of how we play. We’re not going to fight that. We understand that we have to get better.”
Glenn claimed he didn’t read Johnson’s quotes, but he was certainly aware of the line that made headlines. Referring to the anemic offense, Johnson said, “If we can just complete a pass, it would look good.”
“That’s what he says,” Glenn said, “but overall, we’re on the same page when it comes to that.”
On Tuesday, Glenn was leaning toward Taylor, sources said. The 36-year-old journeyman is 28-29-1 as a starter, including 0-1 this season. (Fields missed Week 3 with a concussion).
Fields received a two-year, $40 million contract in the offseason, with the idea that he’d get the full season to prove he could be their long-term answer, but he has regressed since a promising game in Week 1.
The Fields-led offense has scored only four touchdowns in the last four games, none in the first half. He ranks 31st out of 33 qualified passers in Total QBR, with a career-low 31.8.
“I have all the confidence in the world in Justin, I have all the confidence in the world in Tyrod, and I have all the confidence world in Brady [Cook],” said Glenn, referring to their practice-squad quarterback, an undrafted rookie.
The quarterback will be aided if wide receiver Garrett Wilson (knee) returns to the lineup. He’s day-to-day after missing last week; he wasn’t on the field for the early portion of practice.
