Throughout the midweek, multiple New York sports talk radio programs dedicated segments to discussing whether or not New York Jets backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor could play well enough in this coming Sunday’s game at the 2-0 Tampa Bay Buccaneers to replace the injured Justin Fields (concussion) as the Jets’ full-time QB1.
For what it’s worth, Taylor seems to have plenty of support within the Jets locker room ahead of his first official start for the club.
“Everybody” within the New York Jets “loves” Tyrod Taylor
“I think he’s a very humble guy, you can just see it,” undrafted Jets rookie and current QB2 Brady Cook recently said about Taylor, per Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. “He really embraces his role. This week, he stepped right up, he hasn’t flinched a bit, he’s stayed on his normal routine. I think just the way he’s been humble about it and always ready — nothing’s changed this week for him. It’s just a normal week for him. Tyrod has aura, man. You can just tell: Everybody loves Tyrod.”
Some suggested as Fields endured struggles throughout the summer that Taylor, 36, was the best passer on the Jets’ roster. That was before Fields completed 16-of-22 pass attempts for 218 yards and accounted for three touchdowns (one passing, two rushing) in the Jets’ 34-32 Week 1 home loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
However, Fields more recently connected on 3-of-11 passes for 27 yards before he suffered a concussion in the Jets’ 30-10 home defeat against the Buffalo Bills last Sunday.
Will Tyrod Taylor’s “pretty” passes make him a full-time QB1?
“It’s pretty, bro,” Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson said about Taylor’s deep ball. “I’m excited to see some of those go up.”
Following the Tampa Bay matchup, the Jets will play a “Monday Night Football” game at a winless Miami Dolphins team that seems to be a mess in multiple ways on Sept. 29. Thus, the Jets should have a realistic chance of getting to 2-2 on the campaign if they earn an upset win at Tampa Bay’s Raymond James Stadium.
Unless Taylor trips and falls his way into a victory over the Buccaneers, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn realistically could determine next week that he has to stay with a hot hand.
“We always go against him in practice,” Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner added about Taylor. “We know that he’s more than capable of getting the job done. We’re not thinking (there will be) a drop-off. That’s not our mentality. Coaches believe in Tyrod, us players believe in Tyrod.”
That belief likely will only grow if Taylor guides the Jets to their first win of the season on Sunday.