Former Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields finds himself in a familiar position of proving his value, this time as he battles for a secure role with the Kansas City Chiefs during the 2026 preseason.
Fields, who starred for the Buckeyes from 2019 to 2020 after transferring from Georgia, joined the Chiefs via trade from the New York Jets earlier this offseason. The move came after a difficult year in New York, where expectations ran high following a substantial free-agent contract.
The dual-threat signal-caller has spent training camp and exhibition games working primarily as the backup to Patrick Mahomes. Most expect him to stick on the final 53-man roster in that capacity. Still, the strong showing of rookie Garrett Nussmeier has raised the possibility of a different outcome.
Sports Illustrated’s Joshua Schulman suggested Fields could become a trade candidate if Kansas City decides Nussmeier is ready to handle second-string duties. Schulman noted the potential roster benefits of such a move.
“However, if the Chiefs were to trade him and make Nussmeier their second-string, it would be to free up a spot on the 53-man for a roster bubble player who deserves it rather than an extra backup quarterback who would never see the field unless disaster struck,” Schulman wrote.
He stressed the idea remains unlikely.
“When push comes to shove, Andy Reid will probably feel more confident starting Fields over Nussmeier in a regular season game simply because of his professional experience and veteran status,” he wrote.
Schulman further outlined the larger question for the Chiefs.
“The question is whether the Chiefs are willing to bank on Mahomes’ health for all 17 games or if they want to develop someone who could become his long-term backup for years to come. The alternative is sacrificing a worthy roster candidate at another position or risking Nussmeier getting snatched on the waiver wire.”
Ohio State fans remember Fields as one of the program’s most dynamic quarterbacks in recent years. In two seasons in Columbus, he completed 68.4 percent of his passes for 5,373 yards, 63 touchdowns and nine interceptions while rushing for 867 yards and 15 scores.
He finished third in Heisman Trophy voting in 2019 and earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year honors twice.
Those college numbers built significant hype heading into the 2021 NFL Draft, where the Chicago Bears selected him 11th overall. The transition to the professional ranks has proven more challenging.
Across five NFL seasons and 59 games, Fields has completed 61.4 percent of his passes for 9,039 yards, 52 touchdowns and 32 interceptions. He has also rushed for 2,892 yards and 23 touchdowns, showing the same athletic ability that excited Buckeye supporters.
His 2025 campaign with the Jets reflected ongoing inconsistency. Fields started nine games and finished 2-7, throwing for 1,259 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception while completing 62.7 percent of his attempts. He added 383 rushing yards and four scores before a knee injury landed him on injured reserve.
In limited preseason action with Kansas City, Fields has been efficient, completing all four of his passes in one outing and going 9-for-12 for 64 yards in another. Nussmeier, a seventh-round pick out of LSU, has drawn attention with 22 completions on 36 attempts for 172 yards across two games and is set to start the preseason finale.
Fields’ career record as a starter sits at 16-37. That mark, combined with the Chiefs’ traditional preference for carrying only two quarterbacks on the active roster, has fueled the trade speculation. Kansas City already carries roughly $3 million of Fields’ 2026 salary after the Jets absorbed the majority in the March deal that sent a 2027 sixth-round pick to New York.
Mahomes continues working back from significant knee surgery suffered late in the 2025 season, adding uncertainty to the depth chart. Fields’ experience and mobility still offer a reliable option should the two-time MVP miss time.
For Buckeyes alumni and fans tracking former players, Fields’ journey remains one of high talent searching for sustained success. A trade before final cuts would mark another twist in a career that began with so much promise in Columbus.
For now, he appears positioned to remain Mahomes’ primary backup as the regular season approaches, though the next few days will settle the matter.
