New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields cleared concussion protocol and will start Monday night’s road game against the Miami Dolphins, head coach Aaron Glenn confirmed Saturday.
Fields was placed in the protocol following a Week 2 loss against the Buffalo Bills and missed last week’s setback at Tampa Bay. He returned to practice this week as a full participant on Thursday and Friday.
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel also announced welcome news for his team on Saturday. He said tight end Darren Waller, an offseason acquisition who has yet to play this season, will be on the field against the Jets.
Fields, 26, was injured early in the fourth quarter of the 30-10 loss to the Bills on Sept. 14 when he was smacked by Buffalo pass rusher Joey Bosa after throwing an incomplete pass. His head hit the turf as he landed but he stayed in the game for one more play and got sacked by Bosa, causing a fumble.
Veteran backup Tyrod Taylor started last Sunday’s 29-27 loss to the Buccaneers. He completed 26 of 36 passes for 197 yards with two touchdowns and one interception that was returned for a score.
Fields has completed just 57.6 percent of his passes for 245 yards with one touchdown. He also has run for 97 yards and two scores in two games.
The Bears selected Fields with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 draft. He spent three seasons in Chicago and one with the Pittsburgh Steelers before signing with the Jets as a free agent in the offseason.
Fields is 14-32 as a starter and has thrown for 8,025 yards with 46 TDs and 31 interceptions.
Waller, 33, suffered a hip strain in practice ahead of Week 1 and has yet to play. He sat out in 2024 after retiring but when he decided to play again, the New York Giants traded him and a 2027 conditional seventh-round pick to Miami for a 2026 sixth-round pick.
He has played in 86 career games (63 starts) with the Baltimore Ravens, Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders and Giants since he was selected in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He has 350 catches for 4,124 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Also for the Dolphins, star wide receiver Tyreek Hill did not practice on Saturday for what reports said were personal reasons. He is still expected to play against the New York.
The Jets (0-3) and Dolphins (0-3) are both searching for their first win of the season.
–Field Level Media
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