Justin Fields’ shaky preseason showing confirms Jets fans’ worst fears

Justin Fields' preseason debut with the New York Jets against the Green Bay Packers a week ago couldn't have gone much better, as the former first-round pick helped engineer an efficient touchdown drive in the lone series he played.

The same can't be said about his performance in the Jets' second preseason game against the New York Giants on Saturday night. Fields and the first-team passing attack struggled mightily in the two possessions they were given.

The Jets did manage to cross midfield on their first offensive possession, but that was almost entirely due to favorable field position and a couple of nice runs. Fields connected on his first attempt to rookie tight end Mason Taylor, then failed to complete another pass for the rest of the game.

The Ohio State product finished just 1-of-5 passing for four yards, adding a five-yard scramble on the ground. The second drive looked more promising — a 12-play, 52-yard march that ended in a field goal — but the Jets failed to complete a single pass throughout the series.

Justin Fields and the Jets' passing attack is clearly a work in progress

While the Jets were able to move the ball a bit due to their running game, Saturday night's performance didn't do much to quell concerns about the passing attack entering 2025.

The struggles were glaring, and they came against a Giants defense that wasn’t exactly unloading its full arsenal in a preseason setting. If this is any indication of what’s to come, the Jets’ passing game could be in serious trouble once the real games begin.

It's a stark contrast to the performance of the Jets' starting offense a week ago, albeit in a very limited sample size. That said, it does confirm what reports out of Jets-Giants joint practices this week indicated.

The Jets’ offense reportedly struggled against a stout Giants pass rush in practice this past week, and those issues carried over into Saturday night’s preseason game. While the offensive line mostly held its own, the rest of the passing game was a mess.

The blame doesn’t fall solely on Fields, for what it’s worth. Jets receivers struggled to create separation, which is hardly a surprise given the state of the team’s wide receiver room.

But for any fans hoping to see progress from the passing game this preseason, Saturday night offered little reason for optimism.

The Jets have one final preseason game to make an impression before next month's Week 1 opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but it's worth wondering how much — if at all — the starters will play in that game.

Saturday night may have been the final chance for Fields and the starting offense to make a first impression, and if that's the case, Jets fans are left with more questions than answers.

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