How Justin Fields has been responsible for 'uneven' performances of Jets offense this summer

The New York Jets' first-team passing attack largely failed to impress from the early days of training camp through the club's preseason game against the New York Giants this past weekend. 

Following the Jets' 31-12 loss to the Giants on Saturday, a story indicated that outside observers have been concerned about the "accuracy and processing" displayed by Jets quarterback Justin Fields this summer. On Sunday, Antwan Staley of the New York Daily News expanded on Fields' performances.

"Throughout the summer, Fields has had an uneven training camp," Staley wrote. "He has struggled at times with accuracy issues and holding onto the ball too long. It has also been noted that Fields appears hesitant to throw the ball down the field."

Per Fox Sports, Fields connected on four of nine pass attempts for 46 yards over his first two preseason games with the Jets. Versus the Giants, he completed just one of five passes for four yards. 

While it's understandable that first-year Jets head coach Aaron Glenn doesn't want starters taking risks in meaningless exhibition games, fans probably wouldn't mind seeing Fields throw more than a handful of passes in the Jets' preseason finale against the Philadelphia Eagles this coming Friday. 

Fields went 10-28 as a starter and completed 60.3 percent of his pass attempts while with the Chicago Bears from 2021-23. More recently, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin benched Fields in favor of Russell Wilson last fall, even though Fields helped the Steelers win four of their first six games. Fields never made another start for Pittsburgh after Week 6 of the 2024 campaign. 

"Fields struggled in both joint practices against the Giants after he was sacked a combined eight times in two days," Staley continued. "He is still learning offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand’s system and trying to gain chemistry with his teammates. With the regular-season opener against the Steelers in three weeks, the Jets have to hope Fields’ play will be better in the team’s preseason finale against the Eagles next Friday."

The Jets can escape the two-year, $40M contract that included $30M guaranteed they gave Fields this past March as soon as next offseason. That said, backup Tyrod Taylor needing a "minor scope" on his knee earlier in August essentially guaranteed that a healthy Fields will be in the lineup for the Jets' Week 1 game against the Steelers on Sept. 7. 

Assuming Taylor recovers as expected, he could be called into action at some point this fall if Fields fails to look better in games than he has in summer practices open to media members.