Jets’ Justin Fields ‘relieved’ that toe harm wasn’t worse

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields will apply for a few weeks with a plastic protect on the skin of his cleats to guard his injured toe. All issues thought of, although, he is “very relieved” that final week’s harm wasn’t main.

“God was searching that day,” Fields mentioned Tuesday in addressing the harm for the primary time.

Fields limped off the sphere final Thursday and was taken by way of cart to the locker room. He mentioned his telephone began blowing up, with buddies checking in to see if it was severe.

There have been some anxious moments, however an MRI and an X-ray revealed a toe dislocation on his proper foot — a comparatively minor harm, particularly because it was the second toe and never the large toe.

“We get our ft stepped on on a regular basis at apply, so it simply felt regular at first once I obtained stepped on. However I attempted strolling off and it simply felt bizarre, like one thing was caught in my toe,” Fields mentioned. “I did not know what to assume. I simply knew one thing was improper. … Fortunately, they mentioned it was simply dislocated.”

Fields missed one apply, was restricted in one other and returned Monday to crew drills. He mentioned there was preliminary discomfort, however the toe is “working its means again to 100%.”

The Jets, with a historical past of devastating quarterback accidents, could not afford to lose Fields for a prolonged interval. He is studying new teammates and a brand new offense — his fourth system in 5 years — and he acknowledged that apply reps are essential.

“I positively did not need to miss a lot time,” he mentioned. “That is why I used to be so wanting to get again on the sphere.”

Fields wasn’t notably sharp Tuesday. It was a run-heavy apply in pads, so he was solely 4-for-8, together with two drops. He took a few sacks by holding the ball too lengthy — a bugaboo from his previous.

It was a sluggish day for the whole offense, however Fields supplied a spark throughout a two-minute drill, scrambling for 9 yards on fourth-and-2. One play later, he threw a 15-yard landing to rookie tight finish Mason Taylor.

First-year coach Aaron Glenn lauded Fields and the offense for rallying late in apply, however he wasn’t happy with the general efficiency. He withheld his analysis of Fields, saying he wanted to observe the movie.

In three-plus practices, Fields has but to ship a lights-out day, however it beats him sitting out for an prolonged time with harm.

Large receiver Garrett Wilson, who performed with Fields at Ohio State, mentioned he was “very relieved” to see him again.

“After figuring out him for the previous decade, rattling close to now, it is all the time like, ‘When’s he going to be again on the market?’ He is only a robust cat. He is by no means out too lengthy,” Wilson mentioned. “He broke his ribs towards Clemson in faculty and I do not know if he missed a play. So he is that sort of man.”

For now, Fields will apply with safety on his proper foot. Exhibiting it to reporters, he reached down, raised his foot and knocked on the protect.

“It is virtually like a metal toe,” he mentioned, “however it’s like a plastic toe — safety for a few weeks.”