Chiefs double down on Justin Fields' role in 2026
It is clear Fields has a purpose for the Chiefs.
Chiefs double down on Justin Fields' role in 2026 originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Kansas City Chiefs needed a veteran quarterback on their roster after Patrick Mahomes went down with an ACL injury, and Gardner Minshew left in free agency.
That search led them to Justin Fields, who the Chiefs acquired via a trade with the New York Jets . Given Mahomes might miss the opening few games of the season as he recovers from his ACL injury, Fields has a chance to get a lot of reps this offseason, and even some proper game-time in 2026. While head coach Andy Reid stated he doesn't know Justin that well yet, as the offseason program has just begun, he reiterated that Fields won't be just a gadget guy on offense.
"I appreciate Justin and the way he's gone about everything so far,” Reid said . "I like from afar what I've seen. I mentioned down at the owner meetings that we didn't bring him in to be a gadget guy, although he can do every gadget there is, but we didn't bring him in to do that.
He's a legitimate quarterback, a starting quarterback in the National Football League. "We're lucky enough to have him here. If that's a role that he plays early in the season, we have full confidence that he can do a great job with that.