Aaron Glenn has a plan. He doesn’t want you to know who his starting quarterback is.
It’s a strategy that’s led to New York’s first two wins of 2025. While correlation doesn’t equal causation, the only victories of Glenn’s head coaching career have followed a touch of subterfuge.
Tyrod Taylor was set to take over Justin Fields’ starting role in Week 8. An injury left him in limbo and Glenn didn’t name a starter before a Sunday showdown with the Cincinnati Bengals. Fields wound up retaining his spot and a 39-38 win over the Cincinnati Bengals and their hapless defense followed.
Taylor was presumably healthy after a Week 9 bye, but no starter announcement followed. Fields eventually got the call in Week 10. He threw for a robust 54 yards against the Cleveland Browns, 42 of which came on a single screen pass to Breece Hall. It didn’t matter, as two special teams touchdowns helped give the Browns a step up in the 2026 NFL Draft order with a 27-20 win.
A more intimidating rival awaits on a short turnaround in Week 11. The New England Patriots are riding a seven-game winning streak behind rising quarterback Drake Maye. But even Maye isn’t sure who’ll be slinging passes across from him. The Jets haven’t named a starter for Thursday Night Football. While the team’s unofficial depth chart has Fields on top, it also lists wide receiver Allen Lazard as a starter — and Lazard was a healthy scratch last week.
So, officially, we don’t know who the New York Jets’ starting quarterback is. Unofficially, it’s probably Fields. But if Fields struggles, expect Taylor to get some reps for a 2-7 team trying to figure out what comes next.
