The Chiefs have crammed an enormous gap.
The Kansas City Chiefs have agreed to a commerce with the New York Jets for quarterback Justin Fields, touchdown a brand new backup for Patrick Mahomes.
In accordance with multiple reports, the Chiefs will ship a 2027 sixth-round choose to the Jets in trade for Fieds, who leaves the Jets after only one season in New York.
Fields had hoped to show himself as a starter after signing a two-year contract with the Jets.
Nonetheless, the eleventh general choose of the Chicago Bears within the 2021 NFL Draft featured in simply 9 video games, going 2-7 as a starter, earlier than being positioned on season-ending injured reserve in December.
He’ll now try to revitalise his profession enjoying beneath Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, with Kansas Metropolis filling a gap at backup quarterback left by Gardner Minshew’s departure in free company.
Whereas Fields has not been signed as a starter for the Chiefs, he’ll get loads of time working with the beginning offense forward of the brand new marketing campaign. Mahomes is constant to rehab after struggling a torn ACL and LCL in December in a defeat to the Los Angeles Chargers that eradicated Kansas Metropolis from playoff rivalry.
The Chiefs completed 2025 with a 6-11 document, their first dropping season since 2012, as their run of seven successive AFC Championship Recreation appearances got here to an finish.
Patrick Mahomes restoration timeline
Mahomes mentioned in January that his intention to be prepared for Week 1 of the 2026 season.
Nonetheless, with two knee ligaments needing to heal following surgical procedure, there isn’t any assure he shall be prepared in time because the Chiefs look to provide a bounce-back season.
As such, a commerce to Kansas Metropolis does signify a possible alternative for Fields to show he can thrive in the suitable state of affairs. Fields has arguably by no means been in an advantageous state of affairs in his NFL profession. He was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024 after three dropping seasons in Chicago earlier than signing with a rebuilding Jets staff.
“I wish to be prepared for Week 1. The medical doctors mentioned I may,” Mahomes mentioned.
“However I can’t predict what occurs all through the method. That’s the aim, to play Week 1 and don’t have any restrictions. You wish to be on the market wholesome and provides us the most effective likelihood to win. I hope to do some issues in OTAs and coaching camp and have the ability to do issues there.
“What I’ve came upon via this course of isn’t day-after-day goes to really feel superb. It’s a must to have any individual you belief that’s going to get the most effective out of you however that’s going to maintain you protected.”
