Massive preseason injury update may have just saved Jets QB room

The New York Jets closed out their preseason on Friday night with a 19-17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, and after the game, head coach Aaron Glenn provided an important update on a notable injured Jets player.

Glenn told reporters he remains confident veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor will be ready for Week 1 despite missing the entire preseason with a knee injury that required a scope earlier this month.

That update couldn’t have come at a better time for the Jets. Backup hopefuls Adrian Martinez and Brady Cook both struggled at times this summer, and with Justin Fields prone to taking hits both in and out of the pocket, the Jets desperately need a reliable option behind him.

Taylor’s expected return might have just saved the team from entering the regular season with one of the NFL’s most precarious quarterback situations.

Tyrod Taylor injury update is great news for the Jets' QB situation

This isn't the first time that Glenn has expressed optimism regarding Taylor's status. The first-year head coach told reporters a little under two weeks ago that the Jets were "hopeful" Taylor would be ready for Week 1 after he initially underwent the minor procedure on his knee.

Glenn has been refreshingly straightforward with injury updates this summer. Not only has he been candid in his media sessions, but he’s also been remarkably precise in the details he’s shared with reporters.

If Glenn says he's confident Taylor will be ready for Week 1, there's no reason not to trust him until proven otherwise. That's excellent news for a Jets team that doesn't have a single QB on its roster with NFL experience outside of their projected starter.

Martinez and Cook each had their moments this summer, but Friday's preseason loss to the Eagles reaffirmed the belief that neither is ready to be a legitimate NFL QB2 at this stage. The Jets need Taylor in case anything happens to their starting QB.

Fields has dealt with a string of minor injuries throughout his NFL career. As a rookie, he missed time with multiple cracked ribs and an ankle issue, while the following year, he sat out two games with shoulder and hip injuries.

Given his tendency to hold onto the ball, take a high number of sacks, and extend plays with his legs, Fields is more susceptible to hits than the average quarterback. That's why having a proven veteran like Taylor behind him on the depth chart is so crucial.

Fortunately for the Jets, they should have their full quarterback room healthy by the time Week 1 rolls around. And with how shaky the passing game looked in August, they might need all the help they can get.

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