It’s time to see what Justin Fields can really do as the prepared starting QB
By Jimmie Sykes
The rookie finished the game 6-for-11 with 60 yards passing and one interception. He carried the ball 10 times for an additional 31 yards. The highlight play was missed trying to find Allen Robinson for a touchdown but it went through his hands. His numbers did not pop off the screen, but limited time to prepare interfered.
It is not easy to look like a franchise quarterback when the franchise is not yours just yet. More will be known about the status of Dalton’s health moving forward. For starts, at least Fields will be in for first-team reps without a doubt now.
Fields was vocal from the beginning, saying that game speed was “kind of slow” in his preseason opener. Now, things will surely accelerate as the starter for week three against the Browns. Getting up to speed with the guys already in the first team is focus on this week. Matt Nagy is 10-3 in September, having only a loss in 2018, 2019, and 2021 season openers. He can close out the month with the win against the Cleveland Browns in Week 3.
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A lot is on the line for this team when deciding to start Fields. Preparation can stand to back it up. In all, whether Fields is the starter for the course of a season or not, he’s too dynamic to leave unprepared. We need to see the full playbook tailor-made for him so he can get going right away.