Thursday, Justin Fields was carted off the practice field.
Immediately, panic swept through the tormented Jets fan base, worried their starting quarterback was lost on the second day of training camp.
Initially, he was concerned, too. His phone blew up. But, tests revealed it was only a dislocated toe on his right foot.
“God was looking out that day,” Fields said Tuesday, in his first comments since what turned out to be a minor injury.
For the next few weeks, Fields will wear a protective plastic shield on the outside of his cleats to protect the toe.
It didn’t seem to hinder him in practice. He used his legs on a few occasions, as he practiced fully.
The toe, Fields said, is “working its way back to 100 percent.”
Fields missed only one practice, important considering he is on a new team with a new coaching staff.
“Now is the moment to get those repetitions,” Fields mentioned. “It’s when you incorporate new play installations, making this period incredibly beneficial for practicing and aligning with your teammates, particularly when familiarizing yourself with new concepts and ideas.”
“So, definitely, I didn’t want to miss much time, and that’s why I was so eager to get back on the field and wanting to keep going.”
The Jets are bringing back a familiar face.
The team signed veteran kicker Nick Folk on Tuesday to solidify a position that has looked shaky early in training camp.
Folk, aged 40, was the kicker for the Jets during 2010-16, delivering critical kicks for the team — most notably a 32-yard decisive kick in their 2010 AFC wild-card playoff triumph over the Colts.
Chuck Vine, who has been a close friend and adviser to Folk for many years, relayed this message from Folk to The Post: “Returning to the Jets carries significant meaning for me. This franchise helped shape my career and left me with countless cherished memories. However, I’m not here to dwell on the past. I’m here to compete, lead, and perform my duties at the highest level.”
“He is a well-established kicker in the league,” head coach Aaron Glenn stated. “Upon reviewing his statistics from recent years, they’ve been exemplary. … I’m pleased that he selected us to join in what we are striving to achieve.”
The Jets began training camp with rookies Caden Davis and Harrison Mevis on the roster.
Both have been unimpressive in camp.
The team waived Davis on Tuesday to make room for Folk, who only missed one field goal attempt in each of the past two seasons for Tennessee.
He went 21-for-22 last year and 29-for-30 in 2023 with the Titans.
Mike Westhoff, a special teams coaching guru who spent 2001-12 with the Jets, attended practice.
