Jets expected to make change at QB
After New York Jets owner Woody Johnson made remarks following the team’s latest loss, criticizing the play of starting quarterback Justin Fields, there was plenty of speculation that the team could be close to demoting him from his starting role. According to the latest from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, most people believe that veteran Tyrod Taylor will be starting for New York this weekend.
Fields’ boom or bust performances this season have been dramatic in their dichotomy. In three strong performances, Fields has averaged 294 yards and three touchdowns when combining passing and rushing stats. In three poor performances, two of which contained early exits, Fields has averaged 73 combined yards with no scores.
Fields has done an impressive job of limiting turnovers — something he’s struggled with in the past — despite being on pace to get sacked a career-high number of times this season. He’s yet to throw an interception but has lost two of three fumbles. The most important stat — the one that has team ownership taking shots at him to reporters –is that over six starts to open the season, Fields has yet to win a game with the Green & White.
To be fair, neither has Taylor. In his lone start and in the times he’s spelled Fields after early exits, Taylor hasn’t seen much more success than Fields. But he also hasn’t been working with the first-team offense, something that change this week as the two split reps on the first team. Taylor has seen more success than Fields elsewhere in his career, though.
While Fields career outside of a six-game run as an injury replacement for the Steelers has seen losing stints with the Bears and Jets, Taylor has seen winning campaigns — and even a Pro Bowl campaign — in his years of experience. The only problem is that this came during his three-year stretch with the Bills — the only years in which he was ever a full-time starter — that took place eight years ago.
At this point, it’s difficult to say which passer gives New York the best chance at earning its first win: the obviously struggling Fields or the 36-year-old Taylor. In fact, nothing has been announced as to who will start for Gang Green this weekend. Rapoport posits that rookie head coach Aaron Glenn is, perhaps, purposely shrouding what his decision will be on Sunday, in order to give his opponents as little information to prepare with as possible, as he seeks any advantage in an attempt to win for the first time.
It looks like Glenn keeps his cards close to the chest, making this a game-time decision. Rapoport has called out the first-year coach’s poker face, though, voicing many people’s belief that Taylor will replace Fields as the starter on Sunday.
Canadiens Coach Reacts to Patrik Laine’s Long-Term Injury: “A Huge Blow, But We’ll Adapt”
"Montreal faces tough road ahead as Laine is set to miss 3-4 months after surgery."
The
Head Coach of the Canadiens, Martin St. Louis, reacted to the news with a mixture of frustration and resolve, acknowledging the loss but stressing the importance of adaptation. “Losing Patrik for an extended period of time is a huge blow for us. He’s a key player, and we’ll miss his offensive ability and leadership on the ice. But we’re a team, and we’ll have to adapt. Our focus now is on supporting Patrik through his recovery, and when he’s ready to return, we’ll be here to welcome him back. In the meantime, we need others to step up and help fill the gap,”
This injury comes just as Laine was beginning to find his rhythm with the Canadiens, after a frustrating first season with the team. Last season, he missed significant time due to a preseason knee injury, and while he made a strong return, his performance waned in the latter part of the season and during the playoffs, where he was injured again in their series against
While Laine was able to make it through training camp healthy, the current season has not been kind. He was already struggling with limited ice time, having been relegated to fourth-line minutes after starting on the second line. In just
Laine's Determination to Return
Despite the setback, Laine remains determined to return stronger than ever. “It’s frustrating, of course, but I’m going to do everything I can to get back on the ice as soon as possible. I’ve been through injuries before, and I know the process. I’ll focus on my recovery, and when I’m healthy again, I’ll be ready to contribute to the team’s success. It’s not ideal, but I’m determined to come back stronger,”
The injury not only affects the Canadiens’ lineup but also Laine’s future. With this being a contract year, the long-term absence is expected to impact his value on the open market. Laine currently carries an
Montreal’s Next Steps
For the Canadiens, the focus now shifts to the next man up. With Laine out for months, they’ll need other players to step up in his absence.
Despite the tough situation, St. Louis remains optimistic that the team can overcome this challenge:
As the season continues without one of their top players, the Canadiens will need to adapt quickly to keep their playoff hopes alive. Laine’s absence is significant, but his eventual return could provide the spark needed to push the team toward success.
