BALTIMORE — It’s Tyrod’s turn.
The Jets made a quarterback change this week after watching Justin Fields struggle for most of this season, turning to veteran Tyrod Taylor to start Sunday’s game against the 5-5 Ravens.
Taylor, 36, started against the Buccaneers earlier this season when Fields was injured but has spent the rest of the season as his backup.
Now, he returns to Baltimore to face the team that drafted him in 2011.
“Excited for the opportunity to play,” Taylor said. “Obviously, it’s tough as well. You create friends in this business, and there’s an emotional side to it, but at the same time I’m also a firm believer that God has a plan for all of us and trust it. He’s calling me for this moment, and just like I said, excited for the opportunity.”
The Ravens are another challenge for the 2-8 Jets as they try to gain their footing under first-year coach Aaron Glenn.
The Ravens have won four straight games, including the past three with Lamar Jackson back at quarterback after he missed time earlier this season with a hamstring injury.
Glenn was disappointed that his team did not have a better showing against the Patriots last week.
He felt it was a chance to show everyone how much they have improved.
Now, the Jets get another chance against a Ravens squad that is a perennial playoff team.
“Last week, we went against a really good team,” Glenn said. “We would take four or five plays in that game and we feel it would be a different outcome in that game. Now, we get another chance to play against another team — a team that has consistently went to the playoffs, a team that we feel is surging right now.
“This is another opportunity for us to go out there and see where are we at as a team and how are we continuing to grow.”
The Jets are going nowhere this year, but Glenn has been stressing improvement.
With Taylor now at quarterback, the Jets are hoping they can get their passing offense going.
Glenn mentioned their rushing offense and a reduction in penalties as areas they have already shown improvement.
“That’s what we’re about,” Glenn said. “The only way you can win in this league is to improve. Listen, we know we’re not there yet. We know what our record is, but I’ll be damned if we’re just going to sit back and let that sit the way it is. We’re going to continue to work and get ourselves in the right position to be winners.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
