East Rutherford – Before leaving the game early in the fourth quarter with a concussion, Justin Fields didn’t have his best game.
But if you have any issue with what you saw today, perhaps you should not blame the quarterback.
He played four years in the league before joining the Jets this past off-season, three in Chicago, and one in Pittsburgh, and anybody who watched him before he arrived in Florham Park should think twice before criticizing him.
He’s got a lot of natural ability, with a rifle arm and great speed, but he’s somewhat inconsistent, especially with his accuracy and progressions.
It’s not a lack of effort. He’s giving it his best shot.
On the Jets’ first series, on third-and-11, Fields had Garrett Wilson wide open on a deep crossing route, and overthrew him.
Fields is like a home run slugger in baseball who will hit dingers, but also strike out too much, like a Dave Kingman or Jim Thome.
Fields will give you spectacular plays like his 27-yard scramble late in the first half, but then, on the next play, throw behind running back Isaiah Davis in the right flat. It should have been an easy catch-and-run, but it was an incompletion.
If a player seemingly does what he’s done in his past, with his new team, are you going to blame the player for how he’s playing, or those who expected something different?
So I refuse to heavily criticize Fields when he struggles.
Won’t do it.
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