Justin Fields, NY Jets QB, is one among Week 1’s most underrated NFL gamers

All through the 2025 NFL season, SB Nation’s Doug Farrar will write in regards to the recreation’s Secret Superstars — these gamers whose performances would possibly slip underneath the radar for no matter causes. It’s time to try what quarterback Justin Fields did for the New York Jets of their slim loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Removed from the first-round draft bust he had been portrayed to be, Fields seemed like a quarterback in (practically) full command of his new offense.

Justin Fields’ NFL profession had devolved to the purpose the place no person anticipated a lot from him in any respect.

The eleventh general decide within the 2021 draft out of Ohio State had three seasons with the Chicago Bears through which the outcomes have been extra unimpressive than not, and whereas it wasn’t all Fields’ fault — Chicago’s offenses on the time underneath Invoice Lazor and Luke Getsy weren’t precisely world-beaters — however by the top of the 2023 season, the Bears have been prepared to maneuver on. They did so by buying and selling Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a conditional sixth-round decide, and choosing USC’s Caleb Williams with the primary general decide within the 2024 draft.

We’re nonetheless ready to see how the Williams experiment seems, however Fields was in for one more profession dip within the Metal Metropolis. He received beginning reps early within the season whereas Russell Wilson recovered from damage, after which was summarily dismissed to the position of backup and occasional gadget participant when Wilson returned to the stage.

Then, it was on to the new-look New York Jets underneath head coach Aaron Glenn and offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand, previously the Detroit Lions’ pas recreation coordinator underneath Ben Johnson. As everyone studying this is aware of, the Jets haven’t precisely been on an all-time streak relating to nice offensive minds within the constructing (Nathaniel Hackett? Actually?), however the hope was that Engstrand might take advantage of out of Fields. The Jets have been cautious with the equation; that’s why Fields solely received a two-year, $40 million contract with $30 million assured that made him one of many lowest-paid beginning quarterbacks within the NFL.

Maybe even the Jets didn’t fully anticipate what they received from Fields in his debut. Towards a Steelers protection that ranked eighth in DVOA final season, Fields accomplished 16 of twenty-two passes for 218 yards, one landing, and 4 explosive passes…

…and as a runner (which most individuals would let you know is the place his recreation begins and ends), Fields gained 48 yards and scored two touchdowns on 12 carries.

Sadly, Fields couldn’t fairly pull the win out towards his former crew. With the Steelers up 34-32, the Jets had the ball with 25 seconds left within the recreation, with fourth-and-2, and the ball at their very own 38-yard line. Fields tried to hit receiver Garrett Wilson with a brief move when he in all probability had the primary down himself with a scramble, and Jalen Ramsey put a cease to THAT.

Nonetheless, the Jets might have one thing actual right here, and whereas each Glenn and Fields mentioned postgame that there’s no such factor as an ethical victory within the constructing, if Fields can play this manner all through the 2025 season, you would possibly take a two-point loss to find that.

“I’ve mentioned this quite a few occasions — I simply need our quarterback to be environment friendly,” Glenn concluded concerning his quarterback. “And he went out and he did that. With him and the run recreation, the way in which that he runs the read-option recreation, he decides on holding the ball — I believed he was excellent on that.

“A few of these throws that he received out of the pocket, set himself up, received his shoulders sq. and delivered the ball — I believed it was excellent. To me, these are the issues that he continued to enhance on, and he’s going to proceed to enhance on these issues. It’s the primary recreation. I anticipate him to proceed to get higher at that.”

As for Fields, he would be the most assured he’s been since he got here into the NFL, which tells you all it is advisable to learn about current in the appropriate setting.

“It’s like … I’m sort of anticipating them to attain, so it’s like, yo, in the event that they rating or not, I’m able to go,“ Fields mentioned of his Week 1 opponent. ”And, you realize, that’s the mindset that I just about had all recreation. It’s soccer — you realize you’re going to take punches, and also you’re going to punch. And that’s simply how this recreation is, particularly when two good groups go at it. So you may’t let any of that faze you — simply received to maintain going on the market and driving the ball downfield.”

When the Jets tackle the Buffalo Payments subsequent Sunday, Fields may have one other alternative to point out the brand new model of himself towards an opposing offense much more able to buying and selling punches, however a protection that may not be on the identical degree as what Pittsburgh places on the sector. To date in Yr 6 of his profession, he seems to be prepared for no matter problem the NFL throws at him.