The arrival of Justin Fields to the Kansas City Chiefs was no coincidence. Andy Reid needed a reliable replacement for Patrick Mahomes in case his star isn’t available starting in Week 1. The former New York Jets player brings that and much more.
“… We look forward to getting him in there, but most of all, because he’s a good player. And if Pat can’t [play] for whatever reason, now you’ve got a legitimate guy in there that can play and win games for you,” Reid said to The Athletic’s Jesse Newell.
Fields has been the starter on each of his last three teams, and if he does so with the Chiefs, he would set a record. The truth is that for Reid, this is a relief when it comes to choosing the QB1 for the start of the 2026 NFL season.
“I like his game,” Reid also added. “He can do the drop back game. He can do the movement stuff, play-action, whether it’s a naked or sprint-out game. He has that whole package that he can do. He understands the screen game and how to set it up. He obviously is going to be one of the better athletes on the field when he’s out there.”
Justin Fields #7
How is Mahomes coming into the season opener?
Patrick Mahomes is currently recovering from surgery to repair a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee, an injury sustained in late 2025. While he has already resumed throwing and remains optimistic about a Week 1 return for the Kansas City Chiefs, his availability is still uncertain.
Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Justin Fields’ 2025 numbers
During the 2025 season with the New York Jets, Justin Fields started 9 games, leading the team to a 2–7 record before being sidelined by a knee injury. He completed 62.7% of his passes for 1,259 yards, recording 7 touchdowns and only 1 interception, while also adding 383 rushing yards and 4 scores on the ground.
Despite his efficiency in protecting the ball, Fields struggled with consistency and was sacked 27 times before eventually being placed on injured reserve in December.
Looking ahead to the next draft
While there is still plenty of time to know whether Patrick Mahomes or Justin Fields will start the season, the truth is that in the Chiefs Kingdom there is a short-term commitment keeping everyone on edge: the draft. These are the Chiefs’ draft picks in 2026:
- Round 1, Pick 9
- Round 1, Pick 29
- Round 2, Pick 40
- Round 3, Pick 74
- Round 4, Pick 109
- Round 5, Pick 148
- Round 5, Pick 169
- Round 5, Pick 176
- Round 6, Pick 210
SurveyIs Justin Fields a good replacement for Patrick Mahomes?
Is Justin Fields a good replacement for Patrick Mahomes?
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