The New York Jets suffered a close 13-11 loss to the Denver Broncos. It dropped them to 0-6, and quarterback Justin Fields took a lot of heat. He got sacked nine times, and the team finished with minus-10 passing yards. In a Friday press conference, Head Coach Aaron Glenn defended Fields’ habit of holding the ball a bit longer. He compared it to how experts treat MVPs Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen, who do the same thing.
“You look at Lamar; his numbers for getting the ball out are higher. Josh Allen’s numbers are higher. Everybody tends to see who those guys are and understand, and for some reason, they don’t understand Justin.”
HC Glenn on Justin Fields holding the ball too long:
"You look at Lamar, his numbers getting the ball out is higher. Josh Allen's numbers are higher. Everybody tends to see who they are and understand, and for some reason, they don't understand Justin."pic.twitter.com/m7fUgCA978
— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) October 17, 2025
Jets Coach Defends Justin Fields, Compares Him to Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen
The trouble kicked off in that London game. Fields, known for his A-grade running game, joined forces with the Jets this summer and tried to make plays by stepping up in the pocket and looking for open receivers. But when the line broke down, those extra seconds led to big hits and lost yards. Reporters jumped on it right away, saying it was the same old issue from his time in Chicago and Pittsburgh—great with his feet, but too slow with his arm.
In his first season as head coach, Glenn didn’t skip the issue. He agreed that quick passes are key, and they’re working on it in practice. However, he made a straightforward point: Fields’ style is similar to Jackson and Allen’s.
They hold the ball longer, too, using their lightning-speed feet to change tough spots into gains. People love it when they pull it off and call it smart football. For Fields, though, it often gets labeled as a mistake, even when he avoids turnovers, with no picks this year.
Glenn explained, “It’s who he is, and sometimes it’s play calls and the way that he sees things.”
This shows Fields’ approach comes from his natural caliber for assessing defense on the move, not just mistakes, just like how Jackson and Allen play their games around it. He balanced the feedback by noting the need for faster throws while urging everyone to notice Fields’s talent as an elite player with his own strengths.
Fields agreed, stressing his focus on protecting the ball but adding that it’s time to find a better mix of caution and bold throws downfield against Carolina this weekend.
Fans went crazy over this X clip:
A fan said: “Bro never in my life i’ve seen a coach baby sit a 5th year qb like this.”
Other states: “Only difference is Lamar going to get that ball to his receivers even if he gets sacked.”
While another shared his standpoint: “Yeah but they hold the ball and push it downfield, Fields holds the ball and throws check downs.”
Other Chimed: Because they actually get the ball out, rather than taking a sack after holding it.
A fan claimed: “Glenn always covers Fields.”
Glenn wants more time for Fields to grow, just like the Ravens and Bills gave their players. It’s a right ask in tough times, but wins will help make the case stick.
