Justin Fields running full speed while wearing protective shoe at Jets practice after injury scare: 'The toe is ready to go'
Justin Fields appears to be just fine. He says, "The toe is ready to go."
The New York Jets quarterback was the subject of one of the biggest injury scares across NFL training camps when he was carted off the practice field on Thursday. The news led to knee-jerk speculation that he'd suffered some sort of devastating non-contact injury.
It turns out that he instead dislocated a toe on his right foot after being stepped on by a teammate. While painful, it was a relatively minor setback that sidelined Fields for a single practice.
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He was back out for drills in pads on Tuesday for a second straight day. He didn't appear to have any limitations as he ran at full speed on a fourth-down scramble.
Another situational period, this time 4th down & the #Jets are going for it:
- Harrison Glaser (@NYJetsTFMedia) July 29, 2025
Justin Fields evades the pass rush & scrambles to pick up the 1st down
@nyjetspic.twitter.com/YADZmpaJlo
He also spoke with media for the first time since the injury and showed off some protective footwear.
Fields' right shoe has a plastic covering over his toes that he told reporters is "almost like a steel toe."
Justin Fields is wearing a protective plastic cover over his right cleat after last week's dislocated toe. Almost like a steel toe." Said he's pretty much back to full speed after his second full practice back. Had a key 10 yard scramble on TD drive to end practice. #Jetspic.twitter.com/xgHf5lduhH
- Andy Vasquez (@andy_vasquez) July 29, 2025
Fields also addressed how he's performed since his return to practice from the injury.
"I think I've been all right," Fields told reporters at a news conference. "I'm always going to say there's room to improve.
"Today, the offense as a whole, we didn't start off great. I think we finished off great. But we want to start fast and finish fast and, of course, maintain that in between as well."
As for his toe? He's ready to turn the page.
"The toe is all good," he told reporter Kay Adams in a separate interview. "The toe is ready to go."
That all adds up to good news for Fields and the Jets, who are hoping Fields can show some franchise quarterback stuff this season after joining the team on a two-year, $40 million deal in the offseason. The contract amounts to a second chance for Fields as an NFL starter after the Chicago Bears, who drafted him in the first round, ultimately gave up on him when they had the chance to draft Caleb Williams.
Fields was a spot starter for an injured Russell Wilson in his only season with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024. Now he's the unquestioned starter for a Jets team that's hoping he can elevate a talented roster into playoff contention.
It's a spot where Aaron Rodgers failed in 2024 as a season that started with promise fizzled into a 5-12 finish. Fields' injury scare threatened to thwart that opportunity this season. But as of Tuesday, it looks like he's firmly back on track.