In his limited preseason snaps, New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields hasn’t thrown the ball downfield, an approach that offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand is more than fine with.
“If (the defense is) going to allow him to take a shot down the field, then he’s gonna take it,” Engstrand told reporters Wednesday morning. “If they don’t allow him, then he’s gonna check the ball down and we’re gonna move on to the next play, and we’re all good with that.”
Through two preseason games, Fields has settled mainly for short completions, attempting only nine passes and averaging 5.1 yards per attempt, a mark that ranks 75th among 100 qualified quarterbacks. His ADOT (Average Depth of Target) is 4.4 yards, placing 95th.
Fields struggled with forcing downfield throws early in his career with the Chicago Bears. In his 2021 rookie season, he had the NFL’s second-highest ADOT (10.1), which contributed to him posting the league’s highest interception rate (3.7%). He showed progress in this area with the Pittsburgh Steelers last season, and the Jets want him to build on it.
The 26-year-old thrives when he can break the pocket, extend plays with his legs, and keep defenses honest with a steady dose of RPOs and short passes. That style might not pad his yards-per-attempt numbers, but it puts pressure on defenses in different ways.
Engstrand has made it clear that the Jets are comfortable leaning into what Fields does best rather than molding him into a traditional pocket passer. Fields isn’t going to turn into a gunslinger in the pocket overnight, and the Jets don’t want him to.
The coaching staff believes his game works best when he plays to his strengths – using his legs, keeping defenses off balance, and taking what’s there – which is exactly the version they’re leaning into.