A quarterback suffering from an injury in his debut season for the Jets and carted off the field? That’s the script we’ve seen a couple of years ago. That time, it was Aaron Rodgers who sustained an Achilles tendon rupture. And that was during his debut game with the Jets. Fast forward to now—it’s a similar situation, just a different quarterback, and this time, it’s unfolding during training camp.

Yes, Justin Fields has been carted off the field on Thursday with an apparent lower right leg injury. The quarterback dropped to the ground after an incomplete pass. And then came up limping after just one rep in 11-on-11 drills. Fields then spent close to ten minutes on the trainer’s table with his shoe off before being carted into the team facility.

The head coach, Aaron Glenn, said Thursday morning that he doesn’t yet know the severity of the injury. But he believes that someone may have stepped on Fields’ toe. “Justin went down with a toe in the right side of his foot. Listen, I don’t know the severity of the injury,” Glenn said. The general manager, Darren Mougey, and a team doctor had a discussion, as the 26-year-old quarterback was spotted walking gingerly to the locker room.

The severity of Fields’ injury is uncertain, sure. But Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network shared a positive insight, confirming that “The initial report on #Jets QB Justin Fields is there no fracture in the toe that got stepped on in practice today, per source. He’s getting an MRI as the team continues to gather information.” After a brief stint with the Steelers, where he showed up in 10 games, started six (4-2), and threw for 1,119 yards, Fields signed a two-year $40 million deal with the Jets earlier this offseason.

A couple of weeks later, GM Mougey announced that Fields will be the starting quarterback entering the 2025 season. With Fields being sidelined at the moment, the quarterback Tyrod Taylor then took the starting reps.

This makes it two injuries in just a couple of years for Fields. Clearly, the injury bug knows his address. Back in the 2023 season (with the Bears), Fields dislocated his shoulder and thumb while being sacked by the former Vikings DE Danielle Hunter in a week 6 matchup. The QB went on to miss the next four games. And he was limited to just 13 starts with a mediocre 5-8 record.

But things shifted quickly last year when he led the Steelers to a 4-2 start in the first six games. Which is precisely why the Jets signed the fifth-year quarterback on a two-year deal after parting ways with Rodgers. But with how things are unfolding, all eyes are now on whether Justin Fields can bounce back in time for the rest of camp.

“We’re going to let him play quarterback. That’s what he’s always wanted to do,” Glenn had said earlier this offseason. Though for now, it’s more about crossed fingers and well-wishes than playbooks and reps.

Fingers crossed for Justin Fields’ healthy recovery

Justin Fields was expected to hit the ground running at Jets camp. After all, he gave the Steelers a spark last season before settling in behind Russell Wilson. Still just 26, Fields arrived in New York with a chance to reset under a new regime. And a fresh start for a team that’s cycled through more quarterbacks than it can count. For a franchise desperate for long-term stability under center, Fields was supposed to be part of the solution.

So, when the word broke that Fields was carted off with a leg injury, Jets fans didn’t waste time. Hope turned to worry, and the prayers started flying. “oh man, Jet’s having no preseason luck with QBs lately. Hope it’s not too serious but carted off, ouch,” one fan posted, summing up what most of New York was thinking. It’s been a revolving door under center for years, but the past two camps have been especially cursed. From Rodgers going down four plays in, to Justin Fields now getting carted off before even throwing a preseason pass.

“What happened? Hope he’s OK. I saw yesterday when he was walking into the place for the players what happened?” Another fan posted, noting they’d seen Fields walking into the camp just the day before. Another echoed the same disbelief: “This is unbelievable….wtf man … what did the Jets do to deserve this luck…?” For a fanbase that’s waited decades for stability, watching another new QB limp off before his Jets story could really begin is gutting. It’s frustrating.

Still, amid all the worry, there was hope. “Prayers for Justin 🙏,” one wrote, joined by the other who simply added, “I sure hope he’s going to be okay.” It’s the kind of quiet, anxious support that says more than shouting ever could. Because right now, Jets fans aren’t asking for magic—they’re just asking for one season without heartbreak before it even begins.