Justin Fields returned to the field with the New York Jets but did not participate in practice on Friday, offering some relief to fans who were anxious after his injury the day before.
Fields suffered a dislocated toe on his right foot early during Thursday’s practice and was taken off the field in a cart before undergoing several tests. Jets coach Aaron Glenn said Fields’ status is day-to-day, and the team plans to avoid rushing his recovery.
“It’s early, but we want to get as many reps as possible when he’s ready,” Glenn said following the first training camp practice with fans in attendance. “He’ll be involved in meetings and other team activities, and we’ll work together on his return to the field.”
During practice, Fields stayed mostly on the sidelines wearing his helmet and appeared to walk without any noticeable limp. Backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor took over leading the offense, along with Adrian Martinez and rookie Brady Cook.
The injury occurred when a teammate accidentally stepped on Fields’ foot as he threw an incomplete pass to Jeremy Ruckert during team drills. After sitting on the grass briefly, Fields limped to the sideline with the help of a trainer and was carted away, though he was able to walk on his own afterward.
Before the Jets confirmed the injury details, social media buzzed with speculation about how long Fields might be sidelined.
Glenn addressed the rumors, saying, “The huge storm that was created really made no sense. It’s a lesson for all of us to wait for the diagnosis. I’ll be upfront and tell you what it is, so that shouldn’t happen again.”
Fields is in his first season with the Jets after spending last year with Pittsburgh. He was originally drafted by Chicago in 2021 as the 11th overall pick from Ohio State and spent three seasons there. One of the reasons New York signed him to a two-year, $40 million contract this past March was his mobility — a skill Glenn is confident won’t be affected by the injury.
“If Justin is back in practice, that means he’s ready,” Glenn said. “He’ll be himself, and I won’t hold him back. We just don’t want anyone stepping on his toe again. Practice should mimic game situations, so he needs to play like himself.”
Meanwhile, Taylor, who will turn 36 on August 3 and is the team’s oldest player, continues to lead the starting offense. He had a strong practice until an interception ended the final period.
Taylor, who has known Fields before he joined the Jets and often trains with him, shared his thoughts on the injury: “First, I wanted to make sure he was mentally and physically okay. Injuries are tough and unfortunate in this game, especially for someone you know personally.”
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