- - Looking to tank in the NFL? Jets QB Justin Fields may lead to best chance of doing so

Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY November 14, 2025 at 1:20 AM

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Looking to tank in the NFL? Jets QB Justin Fields may lead to best chance of doing so

FOXBOROUGH, MA – The New York Jets made their intentions for the second half of the 2025 season clear at the trade deadline by moving on from linchpins of the defense and stockpiling draft picks with an eye for the future. For a team that sank to 2-8 days later with a 27-14 "Thursday Night Football" defeat at the hands of the New England Patriots, the pair of blockbuster deals were undoubtedly forward-thinking moves by first-year general manager Darren Mougey.

Winning – including New York's victory over the fellow bottom-feeding Cleveland Browns on Nov. 9 – comes at a cost. The price is precious draft position.

Which is why employing Justin Fields as quarterback is about the smartest decision a tanking team could make in the modern NFL.

That’s a harsh criticism of Fields, yes. But one of the primary job descriptions of “quarterback” is throwing the ball. Fields, at present, in this Jets’ offense, is largely incapable of performing the task.

Fields finished 15-for-26 passing with 116 yards through the air. He also rushed 11 times for 67 yards, including a 5-yard touchdown on the game's opening series, which took eight minutes and four seconds off the clock. That drive resembled the product of a professional offense.

The rest of the game? Not so much.

“Listen, there were some good things, really good things," Jets coach Aaron Glenn said. "I thought he put some balls out there. We got to have some guys that make some plays for him, too. I know for a fact he's going to say there are some things he can do better.

"I thought he had some really good throws. We just got to finish those."

At halftime, Fields had more rushing yards (28) than passing yards (23). Forty-one of his passing yards, nearly one-third of his total, came in garbage time. In four of his nine starts this season, he's thrown for less than 54 yards. Explosives through the air are as rare with Fields at quarterback as Jets playoff appearances, with the franchise's postseason drought approaching 15 seasons now.

Fields’ effectiveness as a runner makes the offense a conundrum for the coaching staff because, as Glenn said, they “don't want to make it a habit of our quarterback just continuing to run because we can put him in harm's way.”

“Justin ran the ball quite a bit,” Glenn said. “The thing is we, man, can't put Justin in a situation where that's a running back and I think we all know that because we will put him in harm's way.

“He did a good job on some of those runs. We just have to be calculated when we do those things.”

Regardless, Fields occupies the role of good and loyal soldier.

"Whatever I have to do to get this team as successful as can be and for us to reach our highest potential, I'm willing to do whatever," Fields said. "So if that's me running the ball, that's what it is."

New arrival AD Mitchell – the wideout who came over in the trade that sent Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts – and Fields were not on the same page at all in the second quarter. On one third down, Mitchell beat Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez on a double-move down the left sideline and had a step of separation. Fields put a nice throw on his back shoulder, in-stride, but Mitchell could not snag the pass.

On a different drive, Fields had Mitchell wide open on an out-breaking route to the right. A poor throw gave Mitchell nary a chance of making the play.

"You kind of just have to roll with it and deal with it," Fields said of the new faces he's throwing to (newly acquired receiver John Metchie had the longest catch of 22 yards and three total for 45 yards). "You can't look at your circumstances. Just got to go out there and play."

In fairness to Fields, the deck is stacked against him. It’s not Fields’ fault the defense has not recorded an interception all season (and just one turnover). Before the game, the Jets placed receiver Garrett Wilson on injured reserve.

On Thursday, the acid on the wound came in the fourth quarter with the Jets trailing by 10. On the first play of the drive, Fields fumbled the snap and instead of simply falling on it, he tried to pick up the pigskin and run. That was a doomed effort. New England recovered and kicked a field goal four plays later.

What must be difficult for Fields’ teammates is that he seems like a stand-up guy. A week after Jets owner Woody Johnson put him on blast to the entire world, he helped his team win its first game of the season. He shared a genuine moment of vulnerability – conveying the message that it is indeed OK to not be OK – in that postgame news conference. That’s powerful and important stuff.

The sad reality is that matters almost zilch on the gridiron.

Glenn has made it a ritual of not announcing a starting quarterback in some sort of clash with the Big Apple media. The talking heads will keep asking about the viability of starting Fields as long as there is another game to play.

But if Fields is in the conversation to be the starter anyway, losing is probably for the best.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Justin Fields' poor play is Jets' tank dream for top NFL draft pick

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Source: “AOL Sports”