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By Megan Armstrong
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On Monday morning, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the New York Jets were in the process of trading quarterback Justin Fields to the Kansas City Chiefs. Fields preferred Kansas City over other interested teams, and the deal is pending a physical.
The Chiefs had a hole at backup quarterback after Gardner Minshew signed with the Arizona Cardinals in free agency last week. The Chiefs will be Fields' fourth team since 2023. The Chicago Bears selected Fields out of Ohio State at No. 11 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft.
"Patrick Mahomes suffered his season-ending knee injury on Dec. 14," Schefter wrote. "At a minimum, adding Justin Fields allows him to take the bulk of the reps during offseason workouts and potentially into training camp as Mahomes continues to recover in hopes of being ready for the regular season."
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As mentioned, Mahomes tore his ACL and MCL against the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 14, and the two-time NFL MVP and three-time Super Bowl MVP underwent surgery the following day. On Tuesday night, ESPN's Nate Taylor said there is a "chance, even if it's "somewhat slim," to be the Chiefs' Week 1 starter if Mahomes isn't ready.
But Fields could still have a role in Andy Reid's offense even after Mahomes returns.
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"This is a low-cost, high-upside move, in my opinion," ESPN's Mina Kimes said. "They could also install some packages for Fields. They haven't been able to use quarterback sneaks with Patrick Mahomes. Well, now you've got a quarterback who you can run sneaks with. So, that's something I would like to see."
Kimes isn't the only NFL pundit to suggest the Chiefs may want to install a short-yardage package for Fields.
"Maybe they're gonna find ways to get him on the field," ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio said. "Maybe Justin Fields is gonna be a guy who has a package just to keep Patrick Mahomes from doing too much." Florio suggested "the possibilities are endless" with Fields in the fold.
FS1's First Thing First co-host and famous Chiefs fan Nick Wright said, "My dream of the Chiefs running quarterback sneaks again. Remember, I wanted them to sign Cam Newton for three years just to run QB sneaks?" Wright added, "I think Andy Reid dialing up some Justin Fields wildcat, trick-play stuff would be really valuable."
The Chiefs have been bullish against running QB sneaks with Mahomes ever since Mahomes suffered a dislocated kneecap on a fourth-down quarterback sneak in October 2019.
Last season, the Chiefs' answer to short-yardage situations was veteran running back Kareem Hunt, who remains an unrestricted free agent. He was often featured when Kansas City had one or two yards to convert either a first down or a touchdown, and, at one point, Hunt had converted 20 of 22 in that context.
When free agency opened last week, the Chiefs notably signed reigning Super Bowl MVP and former Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III and agreed to terms with former Arizona running back Emari Demercado. It is expected that Demercado will be the Chiefs' new third-down back.
The Chiefs are also expected to make the running game a central part of the offense under offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, who served in this role from 2018-22 and most recently was the Bears' running backs coach last year.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid built his sterling reputation on out-of-the-box playcalling, so it's not unfounded to think Fields could be used as an unconventional backup QB.
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