Jets head coach Aaron Glenn shrugged off questions about benching Justin Fields after the team’s Week 6 loss to the Broncos, but he had a different response to another bad half of football from the quarterback on Sunday.
Tyrod Taylor took over as the team’s quarterback on their first possession of the second half. The change came with the Jets trailing the Panthers 13-3.
Fields got checked for a concussion during the first half of the game, but was cleared to return and the move is a football decision rather than an injury-related one.
Fields, who signed a two-year deal with the Jets this offseason, was 6-of-12 for 46 yards and he was sacked three times for a loss of 21 yards during the first half. He also ran four times for 22 yards.
The Panthers were the only team to find their way to the end zone in the first half of Sunday’s game at MetLife Stadium and they lead the Jets as a result.
Bryce Young’s three-yard toss to wide receiver Xavier Legette with 1:11 to play in the second quarter broke a 3-3 tie and sent the Panthers into the break with a 10-3 lead over the home team. The Panthers will get an immediate chance to extend that lead because they will receive the opening kickoff of the second half.
Young drove the Panthers for a field goal to open the game, but the offense failed to put together another strong drive until their final one of the half. Young hooked up with rookie wideout Tetairoa McMillan for a couple of first downs and running back Chuba Hubbard broke loose for a 26-yard gain on a short pass from the quarterback.
Hubbard’s return to action has cut into Rico Dowdle’s playing time after his back-to-back big games. Dowdle has four carries for 18 yards while Hubbard has picked up 26 on nine carries.
Jets quarterback Justin Fields has heard a healthy amount of booing from the home crowd since returning from a concussion evaluation early in the second quarter. The half ended with him taking his third sack of the afternoon and the Jets have picked up just 97 yards to this point. They also saw running back Breece Hall make an early trip to the locker room after an injury, so it’s been an unpleasant day all around for the winless team’s offense.
Panthers running back Rico Dowdle is on the brink of NFL history.
With 230-plus yards from scrimmage in each of his last two games, Dowdle can become the third player in NFL history with 200 or more yards from scrimmage in three straight regular-season games.
Via NBC Sports research, Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell did it in 2014, and Bears running back Walter Payton accomplished it in 1977.
Dowdle also can be the first player since Vikings running back Adrian Peterson to have 150 or more rushing yards in three straight games. Peterson did it in 2012, his MVP season.
Of course, the return of starting running back Chuba Hubbard could complicate Dowdle’s effort. Especially since the Panthers have made a much greater investment in Hubbard with a four-year, $33.2 million deal. Dowdle, perhaps the bargain of the year, is playing on a one-year, $2.75 million deal.
Defensive tackle Jalen Carter said he’d be ready to go for the Eagles in Week 7 and that has turned out to be the case.
Carter was listed as questionable to play due to the heel injury that kept him from playing against the Giants in Week 6, but he is active for Sunday’s game in Minnesota. Carter will be trying to help the Eagles avoid a three-game losing streak.
Right tackle Brian O’Neill will be one of the blockers trying to keep Carter from making a mess of things on Sunday. He is active after being listed as questionable with a knee injury.
Raiders at Chiefs
Raiders: RB Zamir White, TE Brock Bowers, WR Jakobi Meyers, G Caleb Rogers, DT J.J. Pegues, DT Tonka Hemingway
Chiefs: CB Kristian Fulton, TE Jared Wiley, RB Elijah Mitchell, T Josh Simmons, DE Malik Herring
Dolphins at Browns
Dolphins: QB Zach Wilson, DB Elijah Campbell, LB Matthew Judon, WR Cedrick Wilson Jr., CB Storm Duck, WR Tahj Washington, DT Zeek Biggers
Browns: CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse, RB Raheim Sanders, DT Mike Hall Jr., T Jack Conklin, TE David Njoku
Patriots at Titans
Patriots: S Jaylinn Hawkins, CB Charles Woods, LB Anfernee Jennings, DT Eric Gregory, OL Caedan Wallace, QB Tommy DeVito
Titans: WR Calvin Ridley, CB Samuel Womack, LB Arden Key, OL Blake Hance, T Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, WR Bryce Oliver, DL C.J. Ravenell
Saints at Bears
Saints: OL Torricelli Simpkins III, OL Xavier Truss, S Ugo Amadi, CB Rejzohn Wright, CB Isaac Yiadom, DT Jonah Williams
Bears: DT Grady Jarrett, K Cairo Santos, LB Ruben Hyppolite II, G Luke Newman, LB Noah Sewell, WR Jahdae Walker, QB Case Keenum
Eagles at Vikings
Eagles: QB Sam Howell, CB Mac McWilliams, RB A.J. Dillon, OL Drew Kendall, TE Grant Calcaterra
Vikings: LB Andrew Van Ginkel, LB Kobe King, LB Chaz Chambliss, DT Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, QB J.J. McCarthy
Panthers at Jets
Panthers: WR Hunter Renfrow, RB DeeJay Dallas, G Damien Lewis, TE James Mitchell, DT Cam Jackson, DT Jaden Crumedy
Jets: WR Garrett Wilson, CB Michael Carter II, CB Qwan’tez Stiggers, LB Cam Jones, OL Esa Pole, TE Jelani Woods, DL Tyler Baron
The Panthers made a pair of additions to their offense ahead of Sunday’s game against the Jets.
Wide receiver Jalen Coker and offensive lineman Austin Corbett have been activated from injured reserve. Coker has not played yet this season due to a quad injury and Corbett missed the last four games with a knee injury.
Coker had 32 catches for 478 yards and two touchdowns last season. Corbett could wind up starting at left guard on Sunday if Damien Lewis, who has a shoulder injury, cant play.
The Panthers placed edge rusher Patrick Jones on injured reserve and they also elevated edge rusher Boogie Basham from the practice squad.
