After six offensive plays against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, New York Jets quarterback Tyrod Taylor exited the game with a groin injury and would not return.
With Justin Fields inactive, undrafted free agent Brady Cook was thrust into the game and performed just about how you would expect a rookie with little first-team reps to look.
The Missouri product completed 14 of 30 pass attempts for 163 yards and two interceptions, but it’s not necessarily the 24-year-old’s fault.
Taylor’s injury history is long and storied, something the Jets should’ve been painfully aware of when they made him the starter and an inexperienced rookie the backup.
Despite his solid play over the last few weeks, should Taylor be considered an option to bring back as a veteran backup in 2026?
Connor Hughes Urges Jets to Move on From Tyrod Taylor
With the New York Jets expected to land a rookie quarterback in 2026, they’re going to have to find themselves a veteran signal-caller to back up the rookie in case he’s not ready to play Week 1, or worst-case scenario, start due to injuries.
While Taylor has been serviceable, SNY Jets insider Connor Hughes believes the Jets can’t rely on him as a viable option.
“Taylor could be the guy that they bring back and have him as the placeholder veteran where if the rookie is not ready, they let Taylor start the season until the rookie is ready. I don’t think you can’t do that anymore,” Hughes said.
“You just can’t trust Tyrod Taylor to start any string of games. If you need him for a quarter. If you need him for a half. If you need him to finish out one particular game or spot start, absolutely that’s fine. But the durability questions that have followed him throughout his career, they haven’t gotten better here in his 15th year.”
To Hughes’ point, Taylor’s injuries have already cost him time in 2025.
He was supposed to be inserted as the starter in Week 8 against the Cincinnati Bengals, but was unable to travel with the team thanks to a knee injury.
Now, he’s in jeopardy of missing Week 15 against the Jacksonville Jaguars thanks to the groin injury suffered against the Miami Dolphins.
Veteran QB Options for the Jets in 2026
With Taylor off the table, the New York Jets do have viable options for veteran quarterbacks in 2026.
Some favorites include names like Mac Jones, Kirk Cousins, and Jameis Winston.
The problem is, those three are all under contract with their current teams and would require a trade to be brought over to the Jets.
Given their roster holes, New York likely won’t be in the business of sacrificing draft capital for a spot starter at quarterback.
A handful of veterans will be available on the free agent market in 2026, including Russell Wilson, Marcus Mariota, and Kenny Pickett.
Those three particular players have a good track record of staying healthy and would help bring along a rookie quarterback.
Regardless, assume the Jets will be overhauling the quarterback position in 2026, because as it stands right now, that is just not the recipe for success.
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