Justin Fields is one of the biggest "what could have been" stories in recent history for the Chicago Bears. The former first-round pick never found his footing in orange and blue, eventually getting traded away for a late-round draft pick to make way for Caleb Williams.
After one game with the New York Jets, Fields is already proving to fans that the Bears set him up to fail. He's thriving with his new team, looking like the superstar quarterback that fans in Chicago always hoped he'd become.
Former Bears QB Justin Fields shines with Jets
When he was with the Bears, Fields consistently struggled to read defenses. He held the ball for far too long, leading to a frustrating number of sacks. His arm talent and rushing ability were always apparent, but his inability to operate the offense forced Chicago to move on.
He looks like a whole new player in New York. In offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand's offense, the quarterback was electric. He was nearly perfect as a passer, completing 16 of his 22 passes for 218 yards and a touchdown. More importantly, he showed the ability to work within the structure of the offense. Even against a talented Pittsburgh Steelers defense, he consistently avoided pressure and found open receivers. He was sacked just one time despite facing off with an elite pass rush.
But Fields is at his most dangerous as a runner, and he showed it on Sunday. He ran the ball 12 times for 48 yards and two touchdowns, including a fourth-quarter score to put the Jets in the lead. The Steelers defense was forced to account for his rushing ability, both as a scrambler and on designed runs.
Ultimately, the Jets fell short, losing by two points in one of the most exciting games of the NFL's opening weekend. New York might not be a competitive team this season, but they showed plenty of positive signs in Week 1.
It's only one game, but Fields already looks like the NFL's most recent reclamation project at quarterback. New York took a major risk giving him a two-year contract worth $40 million, but the QB is already making the move pay off.
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If Caleb Williams can live up to his potential, the Bears won't have any regrets about letting Fields go. But the former Chicago QB is showing that his disappointing tenure with the Bears wasn't his fault.