It’s become painfully obvious Justin Fields has played his final Jets game

The New York Jets didn't sign Justin Fields with the illusion that he would confidently be the team's long-term quarterback answer when they inked him to a two-year, $40 million contract this past offseason.

The Jets were in search of a high-upside bridge starter who could realistically give the team competent quarterback play with an outside chance of potentially developing into more than a stopgap if all went right.

Again, that wasn't the expectation, but the Jets were at least hoping for a starting-caliber baseline level of quarterback play. Unfortunately, that's not exactly what happened.

Fields would go on to play the worst football of his career and wouldn't even finish the year as the team's starter. Now, with three games remaining in the season and a "knee injury" continuing to sideline him, the reality of the situation has become painfully obvious.

Fields has played his final game as a member of the Jets, and there's really nothing that could happen over the final stretch of the season that would change that.

Don't expect to see Justin Fields play again for the Jets this season

Fields hasn't played since the Jets' Week 11 loss to the New England Patriots, after which he was officially benched for veteran Tyrod Taylor. While Fields accepted his benching, he did quietly hint to reporters at the time that he only really had interest in playing again as the team's starter.

The former Ohio State star was reportedly approached about the possibility of being used as a Wildcat quarterback and expressed hesitation about the idea. Needless to say, that likely didn’t go over well with the Jets’ brass.

That's why it should come as no surprise that Fields hasn't even been active in recent weeks as he nurses a knee injury that seemingly popped up out of nowhere. Fields looks likely to be inactive again in Week 16.

The ex-Bears quarterback told reporters on Friday that he still didn't think he would be "ready" to return this Sunday, leaving Taylor as the expected backup behind rookie Brady Cook. And that's likely how it will remain for the rest of the season.

While Fields insisted that he does hope to play again this season, it's unlikely that will be the case. Cook is the starter. Taylor is the backup. Heck, even the newly-signed Hendon Hooker might be more likely to suit up for a game with the Jets in 2025 than Fields at this stage.

It’s become abundantly clear that the two sides are headed for a split this offseason. The Jets would absorb $22 million in dead cap by releasing him outright, though they could spread that hit over multiple years by designating him a post–June 1 cut.

Either way, the result is the same. Fields doesn't seem eager to take the field again this season, and the Jets are perfectly content with that outcome. Don't expect him to even be active for another game in 2025.