As New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields continues to recover and remains in concussion protocol, head coach Aaron Glenn announced on Wednesday that Fields will not play Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Glenn also announced Wednesday that veteran Tyrod Taylor will start for the Jets on their first road game of the season.
The NFL has a five-step protocol for concussions, and the player must be cleared by an independent neurologist before returning to action. Glenn told reporters: “When it comes to injuries, one person that I think I’ll say is out right now would be Justin. He is still going through his protocol. So he will be out.”
Glenn also said of Taylor: “There is an element in him that we also have in Justin that I like a lot. The fact that he’s been in this league for a long time. There is no coverage, no pressure that he hasn’t seen. That’s why I have confidence in him.”
Fields sustained the concussion in the fourth quarter of the Jets’ 30-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday in N.J., when he was sacked by Bills pass rusher Joey Bosa. The back of Fields’ helmet slammed the turf on the takedown by Bosa, which occurred with 14 minutes remaining in the game. Fields fumbled on the play but the Jets recovered and punted on fourth down. He was evaluated on the sideline before walking to the locker room with the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant, and left the game.
Before his exit last week, Fields completed 3 of 22 passes for 27 yards and ran for 49 yards. He was replaced by veteran QB Taylor, who completed 7 of 11 passes for 56 yards and a score. In his first two starts of the season, Fields has completed 19 of 33 (57.6%) of his passes for 245 yards and one score. He also ran for 97 yards and two scores for the Jets.
The Jets will play the Buccaneers at 1 p.m. EDT Sunday in Tampa, Fla.
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