Justin Fields wasn't even supposed to start this past Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The New York Jets appeared to be preparing veteran backup Tyrod Taylor to be the starter before a knee injury surprisingly ruled him out less than 24 hours before kickoff.
Suddenly, Fields was thrust back into the limelight just days after his public burial at the hands of team owner Woody Johnson, who essentially blamed his team's quarterback for the Jets' 0-7 start. It was a public humiliation ritual, and most understandably assumed that would be the end of Fields' time as a starter in New York.