Justin Fields Struggles Continue at Jets Camp..Fourth Offensive Coordinator in Four Years

Justin Fields’ honeymoon period with the New York Jets appears to be over. After completing just 8 of 32 passes across his last three training camp sessions—a dismal 25% completion rate that included an interception—the quarterback who was supposed to bring stability to the Jets’ offense is instead raising familiar concerns about his accuracy and decision-making. With the regular season just weeks away and Fields working with his fourth offensive coordinator in four years, the early optimism surrounding his arrival in New York is quickly giving way to the harsh reality that some problems follow players wherever they go.

JUSTIN FIELDS IS NOT CONNECTING IN THE PASSING GAME

Justin Fields is starting to show some inconsistencies in camp and has started to struggle with his throws. While he has made plays with his legs and has made some connections, the truth is he has either overthrown or underthrown the ball to his receivers, and that is making some Jets fans feel a bit uneasy before the regular season is underway.

His honeymoon period with the New York Jets appears to be over. After completing just 8 of 32 passes across his last three training camp sessions—a dismal 25% completion rate that included an interception—the quarterback who was supposed to bring stability to the Jets’ offense is instead raising familiar concerns about his accuracy and decision-making. With the regular season just weeks away and Fields working with his fourth offensive coordinator in four years, the early optimism surrounding his arrival in New York is quickly giving way to the harsh reality that some problems follow players wherever they go.

In Fields’ last three practices, his completions are 2 for 10 in the first session, 4 for 16 in the second session, and 2 for 6 with an interception reported by Connor J. Hughes of SNY. Three days of practice that the Jets’ offense has continued to look terrible. When they had chances to enter the endzone, nearly every moment was flagged for penalties at camp, and that is something that can’t be tolerated.

“Days like this — a day that we didn’t want to have — it’s a great opportunity to see how we are going to respond on Thursday,” Justin Fields said. “It’s inevitable — you’re going to have these days in training camp. That’s why we’re out here. That’s why we’re out here working. And the defense they won the day at the end of the day. So, like I said, it’s about how we respond on Thursday, and we’ve got to come out hot.”

JETS FANS ARE FEELING RESTLESS AT THE MOMENT

Fans on social media are starting to get concerned, or they believe that because of Fields’ past with Chicago and last season in Pittsburgh, there will be a problem with him throwing the ball, even with his former college teammates in Garrett Wilson and Jeremy Ruckert. Now, the only saving grace during these current issues with Fields is that head coach Aaron Glenn is not wavering in his support. He believes that he will be better before the start of the new season begins this September.

While the Jets have had a top defense for the last several years (Last year was a mess), the truth is Justin Fields hasn’t played a single down against a different opponent in camp. They haven’t had a joint practice with one of their preseason opponents either. Will that happen this season before facing the Packers in Lambeau Field this coming weekend? We shall see, but right now, Fields is facing his own team every down at training camp.

MULTIPLE OFFENSIVE COORDINATORS

Tanner Engstrand is his fourth offensive coordinator after having both Bill Lazor in 2021 and the next two seasons with Luke Getsy at the Chicago Bears, then with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he had Arthur Smith last season. Learning a new offense can take some time, but to be fair, he has to learn it very quickly. The season will be upon us soon. While Fields is still dangerous running with the ball, you need to see him look dangerous as a throwing quarterback.

In 11 Games Played with seven Games Started, Fields has completed 77 passes out of 115 attempts for 898 yards within four seasons, three with Chicago and last season with Pittsburgh.

DEFENSE GETTING PRAISE

While it is difficult to see the offense having some issues, it goes to show you that the defense is once again coming up big and gelling like a unit, even without two to three important players right now. Quinnen Williams with his calf, Jermaine Johnson on the PUP list, and now Will McDonald is currently having back spasms, is being held out.

“Listen, those guys have been doing a hell of a job,” said HC Aaron Glenn, who praised the play of Stephens, Gardner, Cisco, Adams, and CB Michael Carter II. … “Even our backups, those guys are doing a really good job too. And it all comes down to that they understand what we are trying to do and what we’re trying to accomplish. To me, I think that makes it easy for a defense in general for those guys to go out there and play fast.”

Let’s hope things turn around quickly for Fields before the game on Saturday at Green Bay. While he probably won’t get a lot of reps in the first quarter of the game, at least let’s see what he has learned to make different attempts to put himself into position to make plays with his arm and his legs. The start of the season is coming very quickly.