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Quarterback Watch dragged on at the Jets facility Thursday, the most significant development Tyrod Taylor’s stating he is healthy enough to play.
The veteran was listed as a limited participant for a second straight practice with a banged-up knee that required arthroscopic surgery during training camp. When he was subbed in for the second half of Sunday’s loss to the Panthers, he took “a helmet shot” to that knee, he said.
“Just taking it day by day,” said Taylor, who added he is working with team trainers but anticipated being physically able to play this weekend.
Whether he will is a mystery that Aaron Glenn has opted against solving publicly.
The head coach would like the Bengals to prepare for both Taylor and Justin Fields, and thus he has not yet announced who will be under center.
Taylor, like Fields, said he does not know what Glenn has decided. Their offensive coordinator, Tanner Engstrand, deferred to Glenn.
Fields has a higher ceiling, a lower age and a $40 million contract that extends to next season, but the 36-year-old Taylor has been better and runs the offense more competently.
After a strong spot start in Week 3 against the Buccaneers, Taylor did not do much in the second half against the Panthers, when he threw two interceptions and went 10-for-22 for 126 yards. He bemoaned underthrowing Allen Lazard on a flea flicker but was OK with his performance.
“I critique myself on … are my eyes in the right place? Did I make the right read? Did I give the ball catcher the best opportunity to go make a play after the catch?” Taylor said. “That’s what I judge myself on. I think I’ve done a good job, but there’s always room for improvement.”
There is significant room for improvement within an offense that has not scored a first-half touchdown in six straight games and has not scored a touchdown of any kind in the past two games.
Engstrand said the theme of the week for the Jets’ offense is “Finish.”
Finish plays, finish drives, finish games — none of which they have done during an 0-7 start.
“Something that we’re working on on a daily basis is finishing,” Engstrand said. “That goes all the way down to every single play, is finishing the play from the start of the snap to the echo of the referee’s whistle. That goes through finishing the series with a touchdown instead of field goals to open up games, and it also goes to finishing games when we have the opportunity.”
“We’ve been in five one-score games so far this year, and on offense we’ve had the chance three times to win the game at the end of the game, and unfortunately, we came up short in all those areas.”
Not helping that offense: Garrett Wilson, who missed his first career game Sunday, did not practice again because of a knee issue.
Tight end Mason Taylor was added to the injury report with a quad issue.
Edge Jermaine Johnson II (ankle) and cornerback Quan’tez Stiggers (hip) were upgraded from limited practice participants to full participants.
The Jets released offensive lineman Esa Pole.
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