Jets' Fields 'relieved' that toe injury wasn't worse

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- New York Jets backmost Justin Fields volition signifier for a mates of weeks with a integrative shield connected the extracurricular of his cleats to support his injured toe. All things considered, though, he's "very relieved" that past week's wounded wasn't major.

"God was looking retired that day," Fields said Tuesday successful addressing the wounded for the archetypal time.

Fields limped disconnected the tract past Thursday and was taken via cart to the locker room. He said his telephone started blowing up, with friends checking successful to spot if it was serious.

There were immoderate anxious moments, but an MRI and an X-ray revealed a toed dislocation connected his close ft -- a comparatively insignificant injury, particularly since it wasn't the large toe.

"We get our feet stepped connected each the clip astatine practice, truthful it conscionable felt mean astatine archetypal erstwhile I got stepped on. But I tried walking disconnected and it conscionable felt weird, similar thing was stuck successful my toe," Fields said. "I didn't cognize what to think. I conscionable knew thing was wrong. ... Luckily, they said it was conscionable dislocated."

Fields missed 1 practice, was constricted successful different and returned Monday to squad drills. He said determination was archetypal discomfort, but the toed is "working its mode backmost to 100%."

The Jets, with a past of devastating backmost injuries, couldn't spend to suffer Fields for a lengthy period. He's learning caller teammates and a caller discourtesy -- his 4th strategy successful 5 years -- and helium acknowledged that signifier reps are critical.

"I decidedly didn't privation to miss overmuch time," helium said. "That's wherefore I was truthful anxious to get backmost connected the field."

Fields wasn't peculiarly crisp Tuesday. It was a run-heavy signifier successful pads, truthful helium was lone 4-for-8, including 2 drops. He took a mates of sacks by holding the shot excessively agelong -- a bugaboo from his past.

It was a sluggish time for the full offense, but Fields provided a spark during a two-minute drill, scrambling for 9 yards connected fourth-and-2. One play later, helium threw a 15-yard touchdown to rookie choky extremity Mason Taylor.

First-year manager Aaron Glenn lauded Fields and the discourtesy for rallying precocious successful practice, but helium wasn't pleased with the wide performance. He withheld his valuation of Fields, saying helium needed to ticker the film.

In three-plus practices, Fields has yet to present a lights-out day, but it beats him sitting retired for an extended clip with injury.

Wide receiver Garrett Wilson, who played with Fields astatine Ohio State, said helium was "very relieved" to spot him back.

"After knowing him for the past decade, damn adjacent now, it's ever like, 'When's helium going to beryllium backmost retired there?' He's conscionable a pugnacious cat. He's ne'er retired excessively long," Wilson said. "He broke his ribs against Clemson successful assemblage and I don't cognize if helium missed a play. So he's that benignant of guy."

For now, Fields volition signifier with extortion connected his close foot. Showing it to reporters, helium reached down, raised his ft and knocked connected the shield.

"It's astir similar a alloy toe," helium said, "but it's similar a integrative toed -- extortion for a mates of weeks."