Robert Saleh on Tyrod Taylor as backup quarterback: 'He's been fantastic'

The Jets, more than any other team, realize the importance of a quality backup quarterback. After all, New York had all its hopes on Aaron Rodgers, only to see him suffer a season-ending injury in the first game last year.

So enter Tyrod Taylor, the 34-year-old former Virginia Tech star who is entering his 14th season in the NFL. The Jets are his seventh team. His job is to be ready to play at a moment’s notice. In his career, Taylor has made 58 starts and played in 92 games. His record as a starter — 29-28-1.

Taylor’s name came up earlier this month when Rodgers skipped minicamp. Coach Robert Saleh called the absence unexcused, but said that the quarterback had asked for the time off to attend an event long before minicamp started.

Taylor stepped up and ran the Jets first-team offense. According to Saleh, Taylor is a wonderful addition.

“He’s been fantastic,” Saleh told reporters. “Elite human, elite leader. The speed at which he’s grasping the offense has been pretty cool. He’s calling two-minute [offense] already. … Really appreciate the dialogue that we’ve all been able to have with him.”

Jets are Taylor’s third different team in state of New York

Taylor didn’t have to move when he signed with the Jets. After all, he’d spent two seasons playing for the Giants in the Meadowlands. His home stadium was MetLife. That’s the same for the Jets.

There are obviously some differences between the offenses run by the NFL teams. But Taylor has seen it all. The Ravens selected him in the sixth round of the 2011 draft. The Jets are the third team he’s played for in the state of New York. He started 43 games with the Bills from 2015-17.

When he ran the Jets offense at minicamp, he talked like a first-string quarterback.

“I think we did some good things, but there’s always stuff to clean up,” Taylor told reporters. “Overall, I like the way the guys came out and competed. There’s always room for improvement. You’ll never hear me say, ‘Oh this was great. On to the next.’ Even in blowout wins and days the offense dominates the field, there are opportunities to get better. That’s how you have to look at it, with a critical eye. We’ll continue to keep doing that and continue to keep sharpening the sword as we head into training camp.”

Saleh said team has fully grasped offense this spring

Meanwhile, except for minicamp, Rodgers has been present with the Jets. This time a year ago, he was getting acquainted with the offense after the Packers traded him, at his request. The Jets thought he’d be the difference in getting the team to the playoffs. But after Rodgers ruptured his Achilles in the season opener, New York never was a factor in the AFC.

But the 40-year-old Rodgers did absorb a lot. Saleh said that before minicamp, the Jets were able to run 200 more full-speed offensive team reps during OTAs as compared to Rodgers’ first spring.

“One, the guys know what to do, so there’s less mistakes,” Saleh told Sports Illustrated. “It’s year two in the system. The ball’s getting snapped a heck of a lot faster. But at the same time, we’re trying to push the envelope. We’re trying to find that balance of why we’ve been hurt the last two years, especially along the offensive line. … We’re trying to callous the team a little bit more without recalling the days of the Junction Boys.”