Jets ride Fields on weekend preseason showing

After a rough practice, Justin Fields delivered a poised preseason outing that coach Aaron Glenn says shows his growth.

Jets Back Justin Fields After Impressive Preseason Drive

The Jets opened their weekend with Justin Fields taking the field to start Saturday's preseason game against the Packers. He engineered a 10-play, 79-yard drive that ended with a 13-yard touchdown run. He finished 3-of-4 for 42 yards and then sat for the rest of the night as the backup to the rest of the game.

After the drive, coach Aaron Glenn said Fields had done everything the team needed in his appearance. "The only thing we care about is how he is operating and is he getting better, and we see that in house," Glenn said. "We love where he’s at right now. Does he have a way to go? Absolutely he does. Is he going to continue to work? Absolutely he will, because that’s just who he is. We know exactly where he’s at, we know exactly where he’s going, and we’re going to continue to work our ass off until we get there." One series doesn’t amount to much in the larger scheme of things, but it was a step in the right direction for a team trying to chart a new course in 2025.

The outing matters less for the final score and more for the signal it sends about Fields' readiness to be part of a developing offense. A quarterback who can lead a sustained drive, even briefly, can gain confidence and command. The Jets appear intent on using preseason reps to test his processing speed and decision making while avoiding overexposure. If the progress holds, it could help the team build a more cohesive unit for 2025; if not, the early emphasis on growth will have to give way to more time and more reps.

This preseason moment frames the Jets within a broader trend: teams increasingly rely on young quarterbacks who can adapt quickly to new playbooks. If Fields improves, it could raise expectations for a 2025 offense; if not, the team will face questions about the path they chose to develop him.

Highlights

The next tests arrive in the next preseason games and the real results come in September.