Time for Jets to look at potential future QB on the roster?

When the season started, conventional wisdom told us the biggest decisions facing the Jets in December would be made by quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the final minutes of games with playoff implications.
Today, the idea of the Jets contending for a championship – their stated goal heading into this season – is laughable with the Jets at 3-7. Even their watered-down expectation from two years ago – “playing meaningful football in December” – might be off the table before the Jets get to December.
No matter what happens against the Colts on Sunday (1 p.m., CBS) the Jets will enter the final month of the yearr (after the Week 12 bye) far closer to mathematical elimination than playoff contention. And as soon as the Jets are eliminated from playoff contention, they need to start evaluating what’s best for their future.
The only problem? The key decisions that could impact their future will be made by two men who aren’t likely to be a part of it: interim coach Jeff Ulbrich and general manager Joe Douglas (who is in the final year of his contract).
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The most challenging (and likely most impactful) choice they’ll face is when to pull the plug on Rodgers’ season. And make no mistake, whether the Jets plan to keep Rodgers or move on from him in 2025, it would make no football sense for them to keep playing their 41-year-old future Hall of Fame quarterback after the Jets are out of the playoff picture.
And playing veteran backup Tyrod Taylor would accomplish even left – considering he’s already locked into next season as the backup.
So that leaves two other quarterbacks on the Jets roster? Undrafted 2023 free agent Adrian Martinez, and fifth-round pick Jordan Travis.
Some Jets fans are already clamoring for Travis, and quick to point out how Florida State hasn’t been the same since his awful ankle injury in November of 2023. The problem is that because of the injury, Travis wasn’t healthy enough to participate in any of the offseason program or training camp. And it’s unclear exactly how far along in his recovery since Jets have had him on the reserve/non-football injury list since he arrived at camp back in July (Travis can be on the non-football injury list because his injury happened before he was a pro).
That means Travis can’t practice with the team. If Travis is healthy enough to practice, it’s probably past the time to activate him and allow him to get some valuable hands-on experience.
As for putting Travis in an actual game? That’s a lot more complicated for a number of reasons: the Jets have already had a lot of issues with the offensive line, so they would risk damaging Travis’ confidence or perhaps a higher chance of an injury.
With the Jets likely headed for a complete house cleaning after another disappointing season, it’s also likely that Travis will be playing in a different offense next year under a different play caller. So does the benefit even outweigh the risk of playing him?
Again, it all depends on if Travis is healthy enough to get back on the practice field now. But even if he is, with all the uncertainty, the Jets might be better serving him and themselves, by waiting to give Travis a fresh start in 2025.
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Andy Vasquez may be reached at [email protected].