Take flight with the Jets

Text with Brian Costello all season as he brings Sports+ subscribers the latest Jets intel from on the field and off.

Not all non-contact practices are created equally for NFL quarterbacks.

Teammates never are allowed to hit the quarterback, but Jets starter Justin Fields went through individual drills Thursday with a GoPro camera on top of his helmet as a coach swatted at the football with a pad.

Fields was a full participant, which checked the box for the non-contact, position-specific practice required in Stage Four of the NFL’s five-stage return-to-participation concussion protocol.

If he recovers well, Fields could be cleared for full football activity and seen by an independent neurologist as early as Friday and be in line to start Monday against the Dolphins.

The Jets also practice Saturday.

Backup Tyrod Taylor overcame two first-half turnovers to throw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes and lead a fourth-quarter comeback that fell just short last week against the Buccaneers.

But it remains Fields’ job.

“I like where he’s at,” head coach Aaron Glenn said. “If he’s cleared, he’s the starter.”

Fields completed 16 of 22 passes for 218 yards and a touchdown and scored two rushing touchdowns in an impressive Jets debut. His follow-up was disastrous in Week 2 and ended with a concussion suffered in the fourth quarter.

“What has to change?” Glenn asked rhetorically about the offense. “We have to start fast.”

DE Jermaine Johnson (ankle) and CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr. (ankle) are “week to week,” Glenn said, and safely can be ruled out against the Dolphins.

WR Josh Reyolds (hamstring), DB Tony Adams (hip), DT Jay Tufele (illness) and returner Kene Nwangwu (hamstring) returned to practice on a limited basis.

The Jets traded for Brownlee on Wednesday despite his injury.

Brownlee has been on Glenn’s radar since the 2024 draft, when he was a fifth-round pick by the Titans and Glenn was the Lions defensive coordinator.

“He was aggressive. He’s a hard worker, plays a brand of football that we believe in,” Glenn said, “and so it was a no-brainer as far as bringing him on my team.”

Brownlee said he “absolutely” was surprised to be dealt by the Titans so early in his second season. He started 14 games as a rookie.

“I think I played great ball,” Brownlee said. “I was actually asleep when I got the call. I was a little bit hurt. Unbelievable.”

Brownlee can play on the outside or in the slot, Glenn said.

“Usually, they always say that there’s not a lot of corners in the NFL that love to hit and like contact,” Brownlee said. “Me? I’m a different breed.”