Reason No. 3: Justin Fields is playing for his job against the Cleveland Browns
Since Justin Fields’ selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, Matt Nagy has preached that it’s Andy Dalton’s team.
However, if Justin Fields comes out and plays lights-out while Dalton aids his knee— which has likely sidelined him until mid-late October— will Nagy actually go back to Dalton?
I believe when Nagy said he’d go back to Dalton when he returns to be a heaping pile of “coach talk”. Why let teams prepare for Fields in advance if you don’t have to. Nagy is the “king” of trying to throw other teams off, so this doesn’t surprise me at all to hear him say.
If Nagy actually starts Dalton again this season barring something catastrophic happening, I’d be thoroughly surprised— even from Nagy.
With Justin Fields seemingly being a very head-down competitor, it makes sense for Justin Fields to come out playing his heart out. This is the best opportunity to jump-start his career as the NFL career he’s been working towards since childhood.
That being said, you’re going to get at the very least some great effort from Fields, and in my opinion, that effort will result in a good super flex start in a league like such.