Jets could be adding veteran QB as Tyrod Taylor insurance amid injury concerns

The NY Jets planned to go into the 2025 season with Justin Fields as the locked-in starter and Tyrod Taylor as the backup, but a knee injury to Taylor threatens to jeopardize his status in the first few games of the season.

While the Jets do have some younger options lying around if Taylor is not ready to go for Week 1 against Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers, Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey are trying their best to see if there is a more stable veteran option out there.

The Jets worked out veteran backup quarterback CJ Beathard, who spent the last three seasons as a backup behind Trevor Lawrence with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Nathan Peterman, who has mystifyingly bounced around various teams. If Taylor doesn't play in Week 1, there's a good chance that Beathard or Peterman gets signed and is in uniform.

Jets work out veteran QBs CJ Beathard, Nathan Peterman

Beathard was originally a third-round draft pick of the San Francisco 49ers, but the former Iowa star was unable to ever secure a starting role for Kyle Shanahan. Beathard threw 18 touchdowns against 12 interceptions in San Francisco, though he won just two of his 12 starts with the 49ers. Peterman's NFL ineptitude is well-known.

If the Jets sign Beathard, that could throw a wrench into the ongoing QB3 battle between 2024 practice squad member Adrian Martinez and UDFA Brady Cook. Martinez might be in the lead in that particular race, especially after a strong preseason showing.

Martinez and Cook both had made names for themselves as mobile quarterbacks, where as Beathard will likely be rooted to the pocket. Time will tell if Tanner Engstrand values that scrambling ability enough to keep Martinez and Cook in position over a more accurate veteran in Beathard.

Taylor is likely not going to miss a ton of time, but knee injuries for older players can always end up taking longer to heal than initially thought. Beathard may end up coming to the Jets if the injury gets worse, though Peterman coming in would be a Tim Boyle-level pointless move.