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Jets bench QB Justin Fields after ineffective first half in Sunday's loss to Panthers

The New York Jets made a change at quarterback midway through Sunday's Week 7 home loss against the Carolina Panthers.

The Jets benched Justin Fields for backup Tyrod Taylor after halftime, down 13-3.

New York would go on to lose, 13-6, marking its seventh straight defeat to begin the 2025 season.

Fields finished 6-of-12 passing for 46 yards and added 22 rushing yards on four carries, leading an offense that struggled to gain first downs and totaled 97 yards and three points in the first half.

Taylor's entry into the game in the third quarter wasn't his first action of the afternoon. While Fields was evaluated for a concussion early in the second quarter, Taylor entered the game and maintained New York's only scoring drive, which was set up by a turnover on downs at midfield and an ensuing unnecessary roughness penalty by the Panthers.

Fields returned to action but the offensive woes persisted. The Jets had consecutive three-and-out drives upon Fields' return and a fruitless possession to end the half as time expired with the ball at midfield.

Jets head coach Aaron Glenn apparently had enough at that point, but the QB change wasn't effective.

Taylor threw two interceptions in the second half, the second of which a crushing turnover in the fourth quarter with the game still within reach. The veteran backup's day ended 10-of-22 passing for 126 yards and the two picks.

Explaining the halftime QB change, Glenn said after the loss that the Jets "needed a spark."

"I felt that it was the right time to do it," Glenn explained. "It's a tough situation for both of those guys, but it was my call. It was my call and I felt it was the right time to do it."

The embattled coach was noncommittal on New York's starting QB for its Week 8 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

"I'll make the call," Glenn said, "but there's a lot of conversation I got to have with myself to see what can I do to make sure that we give us a chance to win.

"We'll make the right decision. Whatever the decision is, I'm gonna go with it and we're gonna move forward."

The Jets signed Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract this past offseason with the hope of revitalizing the 26-year-old's career.

Sunday's listless outing forced the winless Jets to make a change.

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