Why Jets' Quinnen Williams is excited to have Justin Fields as starting QB

Fields understandably could have a so-called chip on his shoulder this summer for multiple reasons. The Chicago Bears made him the 11th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, but the club repeatedly failed to adequately support him as he won only 10 of 38 regular-season starts over his first three pro campaigns. Chicago then traded Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers last offseason once the Bears decided to make promising prospect Caleb Williams the first selection of the 2024 draft. 

Fields received an opportunity to jump-start his career with Pittsburgh once veteran Russell Wilson became unavailable in early September due to a lingering calf problem. Pittsburgh won four of six games with Fields in the lineup, but Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin nevertheless named Wilson his starter in Week 7. Tomlin then controversially stuck with Wilson through what became a five-game losing streak that lasted until Pittsburgh was defeated in the wild-card round of the playoffs by the rival Baltimore Ravens. 

Much more recently, Fields gave the Jets a scare when he suffered a dislocated toe on his right foot during a training-camp practice on July 24. He returned to practice as an active participant on Monday, and he insisted during his "Up & Adams" spot that he'll be "ready to go" for New York's Week 1 game against none other than the Steelers on Sept. 7: 

Much can and will be said ahead of Labor Day about how Fields must improve as a passer and show he can stay healthy to remain with the Jets beyond the upcoming season. For now, he simply needs to focus on making sure his toe truly is "ready to go" once the games begin to matter. 

As of Tuesday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Jets at +475 odds to make the playoffs for the 2025 campaign. If Williams is right about Fields, Gang Green could shock the football world over the final several months of the year.