Justin Fields Says He Needs to Be 'More Aggressive' Amid Jets' 0-6 Start

New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields is aware of the criticisms he's faced amid the team's 0-6 start, and he feels that there's a specific area where he can improve.

While speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Fields admitted that he's been playing cautiously throughout the year.

"I feel like I've been a little too conservative in a sense. Probably just be a little bit more aggressive," Fields said. "I've always just been big on ball security, not putting the ball in jeopardy, but it comes to a point where you just gotta find that healthy balance between trying to maybe fit it in smaller windows and just letting it rip."

Since entering the league as the 11th pick in the 2021 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears, Fields has developed a reputation for holding the ball too long and not letting it rip the way he should. This issue followed him to New York and was magnified in Sunday's 13-11 loss to the Denver Broncos in London, as he sustained a whopping nine sacks while completing just nine of his 17 passes.

▶️ Full Broncos-Jets Recap

06:04

Jets first-year head coach Aaron Glenn maintained his confidence in Fields and shot down a question of whether he would be benched for veteran backup Tyrod Taylor. However, he admitted that Sunday's game was a regression for the 26-year-old.

"When you look at what Justin did in the games that he played, listen, I didn't think he was bad at all. I actually thought he did some pretty good things in those four games," Glenn told reporters on Monday. "This fifth game, he took a step back, and I'm with you guys 100 percent. We can't have that. We have to be better than that, and he knows that. He knows that better than anyone. So I don't think you just try to bench a player after having one truly bad game. I thought the other games he played fairly well."

Glenn is walking a fine line between supporting his players and finding a winning formula for a franchise that hasn't made the playoffs in 14 straight years. Still, Fields' lack of progress to start this year is a major concern, and the head coach's job is to fix any issues that are hindering the team from winning, rather than catering to one player.

Any continued struggles by Fields will add more fuel to the critics calling for his benching. He will have to be at his best if he hopes to help the Jets earn their first win when they host the Carolina Panthers (3-3) on Sunday.