Brady Prepare dinner: Potential File-Setter for Jets In opposition to Jaguars

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The New York Jets‘ quarterback state of affairs is so dire that they could be compelled into one thing they have not finished in a half-century.

Begin an undrafted rookie.

With Tyrod Taylor (groin) and Justin Fields (knee) nursing accidents, rookie Brady Prepare dinner is trending towards his first NFL begin. Coach Aaron Glenn, who tends to maintain issues near the vest, hasn’t introduced his plans for Sunday towards the Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4) at EverBank Stadium.

Taylor, injured Sunday, is taken into account a protracted shot to play. Fields, benched three weeks in the past, hasn’t practiced since final Thursday due to what Glenn described as “soreness.” That leaves Prepare dinner, a three-year starter at Missouri who signed a free agent contract with the Jets after the 2025 draft.

The final time the Jets rolled out an undrafted rookie as their beginning quarterback?

It was Dec. 15, 1975, when J.J. Jones began for the injured Joe Namath, who wound up enjoying anyway. Jones, out of Fisk College in Nashville, Tennessee, lasted just a few sequence, ending with as many completions as interceptions — one.

Jones, the primary Black quarterback in Jets historical past, did some aid work the next week within the season finale and by no means performed one other recreation within the NFL. He went on to the CFL.

Due to the Fields and Taylor accidents, the one two quarterbacks on the observe discipline Wednesday and Thursday had been Prepare dinner and Adrian Martinez, whom the Jets re-signed to the observe squad Wednesday. They cut up the quarterbacking duties within the closing preseason recreation, with Prepare dinner edging out Martinez for a spot on the observe squad.

“Whilst an assistant coach, I have not seen a state of affairs like this,” Glenn mentioned of the present state of the quarterback place.

Prepare dinner performed three-plus quarters in final week’s 34-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins, inheriting a 21-0 deficit. His efficiency was what could be anticipated from an undrafted rookie in his first recreation — full of errors.

He threw two finish zone interceptions, took six sacks and fumbled twice (each recovered by the Jets). He accomplished 14 of 30 makes an attempt for 163 yards, although his cross catchers had 5 drops. He was so overestimated on the outset that he was firing fastballs when contact passes had been required.

“The primary few sequence was undoubtedly fast, and I feel after we’re not fairly trusting it but and issues are shifting quick, you may put a little bit additional warmth on it to guard your self from the folks you do not see — from the ghosts,” mentioned Prepare dinner, unwittingly utilizing a phrase that’s taboo in Jets lexicon. (See: Sam Darnold, “ghosts” recreation, 2019.)

This season has gone horribly improper for the Jets (3-10) at quarterback.

Fields, introduced in on a two-year, $40 million contract in March, performed his means out of the beginning job earlier than Thanksgiving. The coaches mentioned with him the opportunity of a gadget function — i.e., Wildcat quarterback — however he admittedly expressed reservations.

Taylor, who has struggled with accidents all through his profession, value himself begins due to knee and groin accidents. He can be a 36-year-old free agent; his return subsequent season appears unlikely.

The Jets’ quarterback depth chart hasn’t been this bleak since 2017 once they had been enjoying out the string with journeyman Josh McCown and backup Bryce Petty. They performed musical quarterbacks in 2023, the 12 months Aaron Rodgers missed the final 16 video games, however Rodgers’ anticipated return supplied hope.

Now, hope is proscribed, solely a countdown till the offseason — the place the draft and free company loom and may very well be constructing blocks for the long run. For now, the Jets doubtless will flip their determined eyes to Prepare dinner, whom Glenn described as good, robust and aggressive.

“I used to be actually pleased with, in the end, how he carried out [last week],” offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand mentioned. “We have to wash up the turnovers and the fumbles, and he is aware of that, however there’s some issues that he did within the cross recreation, so far as enjoying on time and dealing by way of his progressions and placing the ball in the proper place, that had been very encouraging.”

Prepare dinner additionally impressed teammates along with his command within the huddle. Hey, it is one thing.

“I feel I’ve proven that to them, in order that they imagine in me,” Prepare dinner mentioned. “I do know they imagine in me.”