New England Patriots - NESN.com
The New York Jets benched starting quarterback Justin Fields on Monday after a rough start to the season.
Fields has thrown for 1,259 yards, with seven touchdowns and just one interception over the course of nine games this season. However, with the Jets benching him and struggling as one of the worst teams in the NFL at 2-8, it seems unlikely that Fields will be part of New York’s plans for next season, even though he is still under contract for one more year, through 2026.
The Jets have a few potential options to replace Fields, including selecting a rookie quarterback in the first round or pursuing a veteran player.
Suppose New York is looking to add a veteran. In that case, ESPN’s Jets insider Rich Cimini thinks former New England Patriots quarterback and current San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones could be an option, along with Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyle Murray and Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins.
“Kyler Murray, Kirk Cousins and Mac Jones are the names to watch,” Cimini wrote on Monday.
Jones has participated in eight games this season due to starting quarterback Brock Purdy dealing with a toe injury.
The 27-year-old quarterback has done an impressive job throwing for 2,151 yards, with 13 touchdowns and six interceptions.
The main challenge with Jones moving to New York is that the Jets would need to trade for him. He signed a two-year contract this offseason, and the 49ers might be hesitant to let him go, especially since he’s performed well as a backup this season.
