BEREA -- New York Jets coach Aaron Glenn did not announce whether he would start Justin Fields or Tyrod Taylor at quarterback against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, but it is likely that Fields will get the start. Fields had been benched, but was forced back into the lineup and led the Bengals to a 39-38 win over the Bengals two weeks ago. Coming off the bye, it would seem that Fields would continue at quarterback.
Field presents a dual threat for the defense. On the season, Fields is 107-of-167 for 1,089 yards (64.1 pct.) with five touchdowns and no interceptions. His rating is 92.6. Taylor is 43-of-69 for 379 yards (62.3 pct.) with three touchdowns and three interceptions and a rating of 73.3.
The Jets are 24th in the NFL in scoring, averaging 21.0 points a game.
Fields is the second-leading rusher with 288 yards on 53 rushes for an average of 5.4 yards per carry. He has three touchdowns, including a long of 43 yards. Taylor has 80 yards rushing for an average of 5.7 per carry.
Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz knows it will be a challenge, but feels the defense is up for it.
"Yeah, for sure. It just makes you defend one extra guy," Schwartz said. "It's like having an extra blocker out there because, you know, you have to have availability to handle the quarterback. So, a lot of different ways to do it, but it certainly adds a different dimension. You know, Fields has tremendous speed. He's a 4.3-type quarterback. He's got great size. They have called quarterback runs like quarterback sweeps, particularly in short yardage.
"They have quarterback draws and then they have options, whether it's a zone read or an RPO and things like that," he said. "It just really makes you play a sound. It's like playing the triple option in college, right? You have to make sure you cover the dive, the quarterback and the pitch. And this makes you really play assignment football and put some emphasis on that."