Jets' Glenn admits Fields took step back, has to play better - ESPN

One day and 3,500 air miles later, New York Jets coach Aaron Glenn turned off the bristling and expressed his feelings about quarterback Justin Fields in a more conciliatory tone than he did Sunday in London.

This time, Glenn gave a blunt assessment of Fields' historically poor passing performance.

«He took a step back,» Glenn said Monday from the Jets' facility in Florham Park, New Jersey.

About 55 steps, to be exact — the number of yards he lost on nine sacks in their 13-11 loss to the Denver Broncos. It resulted in -10 net passing yards, the worst day in franchise history as the Jets dropped to 0-6.

Glenn got defensive after the game, scolding a reporter who asked if Fields would be his starter this week against the Carolina Panthers.

«I thought about this a lot [Sunday] night,» Glenn said Monday morning. «I thought about the question that was asked. When you look at what Justin did in the games that he played, listen, I didn't think he was bad at all. I actually thought he did some pretty good things in those four games.

»This fifth game, he took a step back, and I'm with you guys 100 percent. We can't have that. We have to be better than that, and he knows that. He knows that better than anyone. So I don't think you just try to bench a player after having one truly bad game. I thought the other games he played fairly well."

So, yes, Glenn is sticking with Fields, the team's marquee addition in the offseason. The Jets gave him a two-year, $40 million contract, including $30 million guaranteed — essentially, a one-year audition to prove he could be their long-term answer.

It's not going well — Fields is ranked 29th out of 33 qualified passers in Total QBR — but Glenn wants to give him every opportunity before turning