Justin Fields came to the Jets for a second chance. Can you imagine being pegged as the potential top-five QB in the NFL when you’re in college? You’d probably succumb to the pressure. That’s what happened with Fields. He simply couldn’t live up to the expectations that were set for him by others in the Steelers or the Bears.

And when you sign a quarterback on a prove-it deal, the whole point is to push him hard and see what he’s really made of. But judging by the preseason, it feels like the Jets are holding back with Justin Fields.

Ever since Fields set foot in New York, the Jets have been a little cautious with him. But according to that New York Times practice report, the cautiousness is turning into an overly conservative offensive scheme. They’re playing it way too safe. The offense feels stuck in neutral, holding Fields back from showing the kind of dynamic playmaking we know he’s capable of.

And when you look at training tapes, you can see that. They’re sticking to quick slants, dump-offs, and short screens instead of letting him air it out downfield. There’s a sense in that. They want to protect him from turnovers and injuries, especially with his durability questions and that shaky offensive line everyone’s been worried about since last season.

Aaron Glenn summed it up pretty honestly when he called Fields’ play “up and down.” It’s clear the Jets know there’s work to be done, but they’re playing it cautiously, not ready to roll the dice just yet. Saying that after grabbing better wide receivers and beefing up the O-line to give Fields a legit shot at a more explosive offense? A little surprising.

What does that say? On paper, they’re setting the stage for a big leap. But those safe, conservative practice reps tell you there’s still a debate behind the scenes about how much risk they’re willing to take while trying to develop him. But for a quarterback like Justin Fields, this is not a bad way to approach things.

Quarterbacks like Fields (mobile, with a cannon for an arm but still working on those tough reads) usually need a structured plan that slowly ramps up. You want to start mixing in those intermediate and deep shots to keep defenses honest and unlock the full playbook. But this needs to be a balancing act. They want to keep Fields healthy and avoid costly mistakes, but at the same time, they’ve got to push him hard enough to unlock that huge upside he flashed in his college days. And while we’re on injuries, the Jets got a lot of updates.

Aaron Glenn finally gets positive injury updates

Quinnen Williams, who was limited last season by a calf injury, is back in action, beefing up that defensive front. Man’s a production machine. When you look at his numbers last season, you’ll understand how much the Jets needed him back. He racked up 7.5 sacks and 56 tackles last year and is a cornerstone for a defense that held its own, ranking 16th in points allowed. A fully fit Williams can change the Jets’ defensive outlook this season.

And there’s more good news. On offense, getting guard John Simpson back is just as huge. The Jets’ O-line was a mess last year, letting 48 sacks through. 21st in the league, by the way. Having Simpson back means better pass protection and more breathing room for Justin Fields to work his magic. If the line can tighten up, it could be a real difference-maker for this offense.

And the most important comeback of all? Defensive end Jermaine Johnson finally came off the PUP list and got in his first preseason practice. And that’s massive. The Jets are taking it slow with him, but Johnson’s already saying he’s ready to go full throttle. If he can get back to full strength, his pass rush could be exactly what the Jets need.

Putting heat on quarterbacks, forcing turnovers, and giving that conservative offense some extra breathing room early in the year is what he would bring back. Much needed, to say the least. His pass rushing is what can turn this defense into downright disruptive.