Justin Fields' Stoic Response to Jets' Benching: 'Stuff Happens'
The media has been on a wild chase, trying to catch up with Justin Fields after the quarterback was benched in favor of backup Tyrod Taylor on Monday (https://nypost.com/2025/11/19/sports/what-spurred-aaron-glenns-long-awaited-jets-qb-change/).
Despite repeated requests throughout the week, Fields remained elusive, only to be caught by The Post's Brian Costello at his locker on Friday.
With a massage appointment looming, Fields was in a hurry, but he briefly addressed his reaction to the switch.
"No reaction," he stated matter-of-factly. "That's life. Stuff happens."
The Jets had signed Fields to a lucrative two-year, $40 million contract, including $30 million guaranteed, after a decision to move on from Aaron Rodgers and start anew.
Fields was named the starter, but the season took a turn for the worse, with the team slumping to a 2-8 record and a league-worst 139.9 yards passing per game.
In the past five games, Fields has only thrown for 200 yards once, with a 15-of-26 performance for 116 yards against the Patriots last week.
This proved to be the final straw for Aaron Glenn.
Glenn, who had previously been tight-lipped about the weekly starter, revealed his decision on Wednesday, citing a desire for an improved passing game.
"It's not just [Fields]'s fault," Glenn explained. "It's a combination of factors, including route running, dropped balls, and more. We need to make a change to get the passing game going, and I felt it was time to make that call. I still believe in Justin, but we need to make a change."
On Sunday, the Jets will embark on the Taylor era, traveling to Baltimore to face the Ravens (5-5).
This will be Taylor's second start of the season, having filled in for Fields, who was out with a concussion, in Week 3 against the Buccaneers.
Meanwhile, DL Eric Watts was spotted with a new jersey number, No. 95, previously worn by Quinnen Williams, who now wears No. 58.
Injury concerns linger for the Jets, with Kene Nwangwu (hamstring), Will McDonald (quad), Harrison Phillips (foot), and Marcelino McCrary-Ball (hamstring) listed as questionable. Phillips and Nwangwu were limited participants on Friday.
