After a first quarter that included just six offensive plays and a first half that saw Justin Fields throw for minus-5 yards, the fifth-year quarterback looked to be in hot water.
The 17 first-half Jets points in an eventual 27-20 win over the Browns on Sunday at MetLife Stadium to get on a two-game winning streak were all a credit to special teams thanks to back-to-back touchdown returns and a field goal.
However, that the Jets are heading into a short week with a “Thursday Night Football” matchup against the Patriots to come, means Fields is safe and keeps his starting role for at least another week.
“I know this: I wasn’t happy just in general offense or defense in that first half,” coach Aaron Glenn said of Fields’ performance after the win. “But I thought in the second half, we did some things to give us a chance to win, and at the end of the day, that’s all that matters. I’ll get a chance to look at the film, really look at that, and any issues that we have, we’re going to work our ass off to correct them during the week and get ready for next week.”
The late-game efforts by Fields helped atone for the early mistakes.
As he was trying to spark the offense with the game tied 17-17 to start the fourth quarter, he found Breece Hall for a 42-yard touchdown and led the offense down the field for a final field goal.
“I think we had a slow start. Second half, we picked it up and put some points on the board,” Fields said. “This was a tough defense we played, great D-line, and like you said, we finished the game. Breece ran the ball well, and the offensive line, they did their thing today, so proud of everybody. And of course, the defense, too, they showed out as well.”
Fields has been involved in an unpredictable quarterback situation with the Jets and Glenn, who has a habit of refusing to disclose the starting signal-caller each week.
He was replaced during the 13-6 loss to the Panthers in Week 7 for Tyrod Taylor, but Fields bounced back after the benching and backlash from owner Woody Johnson to give the Jets their first win against the Bengals the following week.
Now, he has two victories under his belt heading into Thursday.
Garrett Wilson is back on the worry list.
The star wide receiver returned Sunday after missing two games due to a right knee injury but exited during the third quarter with an injury to the same knee.
After an incompletion on the left sideline, Wilson got up and limped off the field.
He was initially ruled as questionable to return before being downgraded to out.
He didn’t catch a single pass during the game, a first in his career.
The Jets honored Nick Mangold on Sunday during their first home game since the 41-year-old died from complications of kidney disease on Oct. 26.
The organization spread a No. 74 flag on the field as a tribute video played for him prior to the national anthem.
Mangold’s wife and four children were on the field for the ceremony and served as honorary captains for the coin toss.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
