FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — It’s either the best-kept secret in the NFL this week or a master class in gamesmanship by the winless New York Jets.
A day after coach Aaron Glenn said he knows who his starting quarterback will be against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday but won’t reveal his decision publicly, Tyrod Taylor said he’s still unaware if he’s the answer to that question.
“I have no anticipation for it,” Taylor said Thursday when asked what he expects his role to be for the game. “My sole focus is being available and ready to be able to lead this team when called upon.”
So does that mean he truly doesn’t know if he’s starting instead of Justin Fields or just can’t say?
“I don’t know,” Taylor insisted.
Fields was benched after another dismal performance last Sunday, and Taylor played the second half of New York’s 13-6 loss to Carolina.
Glenn said Monday he would speak to his staff and talk to other coaches around the league who dealt with similar situations at quarterback. On Tuesday, owner Woody Johnson blasted the quarterback play while speaking at the NFL owners meetings, saying the team’s 0-7 start was largely a result of Fields’ spotty performances.
“He has the ability, but something just is not jiving,” Johnson said. “The offense is just not clicking. And you can’t run the ball if you can’t pass the ball. That’s Football 101.”
On Wednesday, Glenn said he didn’t want to give the Bengals a “competitive advantage” by revealing his plans for the game.
“We will have a quarterback on Sunday,” Glenn said. “I will tell you that.”