QB Taylor to start Sunday against Jets
THE JETS already had very few winnable games on their schedule, and that number likely shrank Tuesday.
Bills starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor has been cleared to play in the season opener against Gang Green Sunday in Buffalo, according to ESPN.
Taylor was in concussion protocol for the past two weeks after leaving the Bills’ third preseason game on the opening drive. He passed the protocol Tuesday after returning to the practice field Monday, and is now in line to start Week 1, per ESPN.
This is bad news for the Jets, unless you’re rooting for a full-on tank. Bills backup quarterback T.J. Yates also suffered a concussion in the Aug. 26 loss to the Ravens and was placed on injured reserve. If Taylor didn’t clear protocol in time for Sunday’s opener, the Bills would’ve been forced to start rookie Nathan Peterman, a 2017 fifthround pick out of Pittsburgh.
Buffalo also added 30-year-old quarterback Joe Webb on Tuesday morning as a precautionary measure.
Now the Jets will be facing the much more dynamic and explosive Taylor, who threw for 3,023 yards, 17 touchdowns and six interceptions in 15 starts last season. Taylor also rushed for 580 yards in 2016 in his second straight campaign as the Bills starter.
The Jets certainly still have a chance to top the Bills this weekend, even with their barren roster. Buffalo also appears to be in rebuilding mode after dealing No. 1 wide receiver Sammy Watkins to the Rams and top cornerback Ronald Darby to the Eagles in a flurry of moves earlier this month.
Nonetheless, the challenge is more daunting with Taylor under center.