The roster cut has been merciless to the players. Even remarkable skills couldn’t save the ones who got cut. The sentiment is the same for the Jets, who have their future hinged on the QB room. They expect Justin Fields to turn a new chapter for them, but will he be able to do it when the QB position on the team is thin? Or could it be that head coach Aaron Glenn has some other strategy for the team? Glenn and the Jets have waived their rookie QB Brady Cook.

Cook signed with the team as an undrafted free agent back in April. And not just Cook, the team also gave up on all its UDFA receivers, as reported by Nick Faria. “None of the top #Jets UDFA receivers made the 53-man roster. Byron Cowart has been placed on IR. QB, Brady Cook was also waived,” he wrote on X.

Now, speaking of Cook, he could be claimed by a different team of waivers. But if that doesn’t happen, there’s a chance he returns to the practice squad. This comes after he appeared in all three preseason games, completing 25 of 38 passes for 235 yards and a touchdown, while also throwing one interception. Adrian Martinez is another QB who was waived by the Jets earlier.

And that leaves only Fields and Tyrod Taylor as options for Glenn. But the thing in the QB room for the Jets is that while Cook and Martinez lacked experience, having never thrown a pass in an NFL regular-season game, the other two have also struggled to stay available for an entire season due to injuries. This could leave the Jets in trouble without a reliable QB3.

Apart from Cook, the team has waived Michael Fletcher, Liam Fornadel, Zack Kuntz, Tanner McCalister, and Lawrance Toafili. Wide receiver Malachi Corley, who hadn’t been able to show any promise since his arrival, was also cut from the roster.  It was just back in May when the Jets signed 15 UDFA players. Cook was one of them, along with Quentin Skinner, Brandon Smith, Jamaal Pritchett, Dymere Miller, Donovan Edwards, and others.

Both Smith and Skinner showed great performance at the training camp. ESPN’s Rich Cimini, in his July 27 Sunday column, noted that Smith is “turning heads” with his performance. He acknowledged that the WR is one of the “unheralded” players on the roster who has made his presence known at the training camp. However, both were waived ahead of the deadline. And getting back to the QB situation, the situation remains shaky, while one player has shown faith.

What do Justin Fields’ teammates think about their quarterback?

Since his arrival, Fields has slowly worked to build a place for himself in the Jets’ locker room, while bonding with teammates. He has also earned praise for his dedication and his abilities. Josh Myers is one of those confident in Fields’ ability to change the Jets’ fate. He believes the QB can deliver when it matters most and silence the critics who doubt his performance on the field.

“I think there’s definitely a chip on his shoulder. Every time we’ve had a day that wasn’t to our standard, he called out the whole offense, including himself. When we have those days, he lets everyone know about it,” Myers said about Fields as per Rich Cimini of ESPN.

Justin Fields signed a two-year, $40 million deal with the Jets this offseason after his stint with the Steelers. While he has shown brilliance with his decision-making and skills, consistency has been an issue. One such instance is when SNY NFL reporter Connor Hughes noted that Fields went just 2-of-10 and 4-of-16 in two early practices in the training camp. The Jets’ offense has also drawn criticism during the preseason, with Glenn pointing out the issues after getting handed defeats by the Giants and Eagles.

Even the Jets’ fans are yet to put their faith in the QB. “He can be an accurate passer when his feet are set and his weight is balanced. When he doesn’t have that, he’s all over the place,” an unnamed scout told Cimini. Since being drafted 11th overall by the Bears in 2021, Fields has struggled to find stability. The Chicago Bears moved on from him, selecting Caleb Williams in 2024. For the Steelers, he briefly stepped in for an injured Russell Wilson, leading the team to a 4-2 record, but was benched once Wilson returned. Later, he joined the Jets. It remains to be seen if Fields can rise to the occasion when the team needs him most.