After rough outing vs. Broncos, it's time for Jets to give up on the Justin Fields experiment

Fields' pocket presence remains a concern. He took nine sacks for -55 yards. Two of the biggest came on New York's final drive. 

With the Broncos leading 13-11 and 1:56 remaining in the fourth quarter, Fields was sacked at the Jets' 49-yard line on a 1st-and-10, knocking New York out of field-goal range. Then on a 4th-and-8, the QB took another, sealing the game.

Denver features, perhaps, the best defense in the NFL. Entering Sunday's game, the Broncos ranked second in the league in points allowed per game (16.8) and first in sacks per game (4.2). Still, the loss highlights that Fields isn't a viable starting QB. 

Justin Fields isn't improving with Jets 

When the Jets signed Fields to a two-year, $40M deal in free agency, it was a risky move. In his first four seasons with the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers, the 11th pick of the 2021 draft never threw for more than 2,562 passing yards or 17 touchdown passes. 

New York must have thought reuniting with wide receiver Garrett Wilson — his teammate at Ohio State from 2019-20 — would help Fields, but it hasn't. Pro Football Focus has given him a subpar 65.8 passing grade through six starts.  

Per Cimini, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said, "What kind of question is that?" when asked if Fields would be the starting QB in Week 7 against the Carolina Panthers. However, benching him for Tyrod Taylor shouldn't be out of the question. Taylor started in place of an injured Fields in Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, completing 26-of-36 passes for 197 yards, two TDs and one interception.  

Even if they don't bench Fields this season, the Jets must consider adding another QB this offseason. Tankathon's latest mock draft has them doing that. They select Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza with pick No. 1. That would prepare New York to end the experiment with the 26-year-old, which isn't working.