The New York Jets thought this season would be different. A new coach, a new quarterback and a new beginning, finally. But as of now, it’s nothing like they pictured. Yet amid all the noise, head coach Aaron Glenn refuses to abandon Justin Fields.

Glenn knows the criticism. Fields holds the ball too long. But Glenn isn’t buying the panic. He admits Fields can speed it up at times, but won’t apologize for his style. According to Glenn, some of Fields’ best games come at three seconds. “It’s who he is,” Glenn admitted.

And the head coach has seen this before. He referenced Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen doing the same thing and not being called out for it.

“I think everybody tends to see who those guys are, and understand that, and for some reason they don’t understand Justin,” Glenn said.

But the problem with looping those guys into the conversation? Both quarterbacks have MVPs; Allen has 1, and Jackson has 2.

But when your offense just set a franchise record for the fewest net passing yards since Ryan Leaf’s San Diego Chargers days, it’s maybe not the stat you brag about. Fields himself gets it. He knows he’s been too careful.

“I feel like I’ve been a little bit too conservative in a sense. Probably just [need to] be a little bit more aggressive. I’ve always just been big on ball security and not putting the ball in jeopardy, but it comes to a point where you just have to find that healthy balance between trying to maybe fit it in smaller windows and just letting it rip,” Fields admitted.

And right now, with the Jets drowning in offensive misery, Glenn seems to think overcorrection could do more harm than good. But this isn’t the only misery the head coach is dealing with before the Sunday matchup.

Aaron Glenn turns to Arian Smith after Wilson’s knee setback

Garrett Wilson is out with a knee injury. The wideout won’t be suiting up against the Carolina Panthers. Glenn tried to soften it. 

“We’re not saying Garrett’s not playing. But if Garrett doesn’t play we have other guys that have to step up and he’s [Arian Smith] one of them.”

Glenn ran through the depth chart like a man trying to convince himself it’ll hold up. Mason Taylor, Breece Hall, Josh Reynolds, Arian Smith, Allen Lazard, and Tyler Johnson are next in line.

“We wanna make sure that, man, Breeze gets it, Mason gets it. Obviously, Arian, Josh, Lazard, all those guys get a chance to get the ball at some point,” Glenn added.

Well, that’s the hope. But the reality is harsh. Losing Wilson is surely gonna sting for Aaron Glenn as the receiver commands 33.3% of the team’s targets, practically the heartbeat of their passing game. So, Smith’s spotlight might feel less like an opportunity and more like survival.