Tyrod Taylor, the newly appointed backup quarterback for the Jets, is preparing for a challenging position as he supports Aaron Rodgers. Last season, the backup quarterback position became the most discussed and dissected on the Jets after Rodgers went down in Week 1. The team is determined to avoid a repeat of that situation in 2024.
The Jets hope that Rodgers will take every snap this season, allowing the backup to stay on the sideline. However, they have taken precautions by signing veteran Tyrod Taylor as their backup this year. This move provides the Jets with a proven backup quarterback, which was lacking last year when Zach Wilson held the No. 2 role.
Taylor, 34 years old, joins the Jets after spending two years as Daniel Jones’ backup with the Giants. He has primarily been a backup since 2018 and understands the demands of filling that pivotal role. Taylor acknowledges that being a backup quarterback is challenging, requiring a special person who can learn without getting regular reps. Despite this, he approaches his job as if he is the starter, training each day to perform at a high level.
Taylor believes that he has shown throughout his career that he can play at a high level when given the opportunity. Last season, backups played a significant role in the NFL, with some thriving and others struggling. The Jets experienced their fair share of quarterback changes as they tried to get their offense going. Taylor is optimistic about the moves the Jets have made this offseason and believes that the offense has the potential to be explosive, thanks to the playmakers on their roster.
During his time with the Giants, Taylor started five games and played in 11 after Jones tore his ACL. While the Giants showed interest in retaining him, it did not work out on the business side. However, Taylor holds nothing but respect for the organization and wishes them the best. Fortunately, he won’t have to move from where he was staying while with the Giants, as he will just need to head west to Florham Park for the Jets.
The Jets will be Taylor’s seventh team in the NFL. He signed a two-year, $12 million deal with the team. Taylor weighed out his options and believed that the Jets were the best fit for him to positively affect the team.
With Taylor’s experience and skill set, the Jets can feel confident knowing they have a reliable backup quarterback in case Aaron Rodgers is unable to play. Taylor’s professionalism and dedication to his craft make him a valuable asset to the team. As the Jets aim to avoid another quarterback dilemma, Taylor’s presence brings stability and depth to their roster.
