The New York Jets worked out multiple quarterbacks during the bye week.
NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo revealed that the team had QBs Desmond Ridder and Dorian Thompson-Robinson in the facility on Wednesday, October 29.
A Peculiar Set of Workouts for the Jets to Explore
Perhaps this is simply due diligence by the Jets. NFL teams routinely work out players to update their emergency lists just in case of a rainy day.
However, this group of workouts sends an indirect message about the health status of backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor.
At the beginning of training camp, Taylor had arthroscopic knee surgery. He missed the entire preseason.
During the Week 7 contest against the Carolina Panthers, Taylor relieved Justin Fields in the second half.
Taylor banged up the same surgically repaired knee that gave him trouble during the offseason in the Panthers game. However, head coach Aaron Glenn provided no indication that the injury would jeopardize his playing status. Spoiler alert, it did.
Taylor got ruled out for the Week 8 contest against the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday, October 25.
Either Coach was playing his role in gamesmanship, or the Taylor injury was more serious than they realized.
More Information on the Jets QBs They Kicked the Tires On
Ridder, 26, entered the league as the No. 74 overall pick in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft. He has suited up for five NFL teams across that short period of time.
The former Cincinnati product is a former college teammate of Jets’ superstar cornerback Sauce Gardner.
He has appeared in 25 games and has made 18 starts at the NFL level. With those opportunities, Ridder has completed 63.6% of his passes, has thrown for 4,002 passing yards, and owns a 16 touchdown to 14 interception ratio.
The other quarterback the green and white investigated doesn’t have as experienced a resume.
Thompson-Robinson, 25, entered the league as the No. 140 overall pick in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL draft. He spent his first two seasons with the Cleveland Browns. This offseason, he was traded from the Browns to the Philadelphia Eagles.
DTR has appeared in 15 games and has made five starts. During those moments in the NFL, Thompson-Robinson has completed 52.6% of his passes, has thrown for 880 passing yards, and owns a one-touchdown to 10-interception ratio.
The Options Outside the Building Aren’t Great for the Jets
No team has ever started 1-7 and made the playoffs in NFL history. The Jets are unlikely to become the first.
With the season shifting from playoff aspirations to evaluation mode, an outside quarterback addition doesn’t make much sense.
Justin Fields should be the starter coming out of the bye week. He has done enough to earn that based on his play during the Week 8 matchup against the Bengals. However, if he reverts to his earlier-season struggles, then it’s time to go young.
Brady Cook is an undrafted free agent who resides on the Jets’ practice squad. It would behoove the green and white to kick those tires before signing some random passers in the free agent streets.
It’s unlikely that Cook will suddenly emerge as a franchise quarterback or even as a quality backup option. However, it isn’t a zero percent chance.
Cook has been with the team since May. He knows the playbook and has been around the team for months. Cook has a better shot at success than insert random Madden-created player quarterback who has been on their couch.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Jets in Talks With Multiple QBs, Sparks Fear About Tyrod Taylor Injury appeared first on Heavy Sports.