Former Ohio State star Justin Fields hit with unfortunate news for his NFL career by the New York Jets
Justin Fields just hasn’t been the same since he was in Columbus.
Justin Fields was a star at Ohio State for two years before becoming a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Since then, he hasn’t been the same quarterback, and his career has taken multiple turns.
Fields showed enough with the Pittsburgh Steelers last season that the New York Jets signed him to a two-year, $40 million deal in free agency. That move hasn’t worked out, and he’s now lost his job as the starter.
Former Buckeye QB Justin Fields’ career is at a crossroads
Fields has $10 million guaranteed next season, and the Jets could move on from him this offseason. By benching Fields for Tyrod Taylor, according to Dianna Russini, they’ve signaled that they’re done with him as their starter. The Jets are in the early stages of a total rebuild and will likely be in the market for a rookie quarterback soon. With this benching, Fields’ time as an NFL starter may be all but over.
In nine starts this season, Fields has thrown for just 1,259 yards while completing 62 percent of his passes with seven touchdowns and one interception. His five total turnovers in nine games aren’t the primary issue. Instead, his accuracy and downfield passing have never progressed, and he’s still dealing with many of the same problems he had during his three seasons with the Chicago Bears.
After transferring from Georgia to Ohio State, Fields became a star for the Buckeyes and developed into a first-round pick. He has flashed his dual-threat ability in the NFL, but the passing part of his game has never taken the necessary step forward. The Jets have issues beyond Fields, but there’s no doubt he’s been a negative factor in their offense. Now his future is cloudy, and he’ll serve as a backup in New York for the foreseeable future.