Andy Reid: Justin Fields is “more than a gadget guy”

With Patrick Mahomes on the mend from a torn ACL suffered late within the 2025 season, there’s actually an opportunity he received’t be prepared for the beginning of the common season.

That’s a part of why Kansas City traded for Justin Fields to be the group’s backup QB.

The No. 11 decide of the 2021 draft, Fields has loads of expertise for a backup, having began 53 video games for the Bears, Steelers, and Jets during the last 5 seasons.

But whereas Fields has been simpler as a runner than a passer within the league, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid famous on Tuesday how the totally different parts of Fields’ skillset can match inside the offense.

“I like his game,” Reid stated on the annual league assembly on Tuesday. “He can do the drop back game, he can do the movement stuff, play-action — whether it’s a naked or a sprint-out game. He has that whole package that he can do. He understands the screen game, understands how to set it up. He obviously — he’s going to be one of the better athletes on the field when he’s out there. He’s fast, big, likes to play the game. So, I mean, all the stuff I like.”

Given Fields’ athleticism, discuss appears to comply with the quarterback wherever he goes that there may very well be some kind of package deal to get him on the sphere at a special place. Reid successfully stated he’s not planning a lot for that, however the head coach additionally didn’t shut the door on that concept.

“We’ll see how that goes. I’ll talk with him and see where he’s at with that,” Reid stated. “But he’s more than a gadget guy, that’s not how I’m looking at it. That’s not why we brought him in. We brought him in to play quarterback if he’s needed to play quarterback.

“And then whatever goes from there — if he gets bored, we’ll have a couple of things for him,” Reid added with a chuckle.

Fields rushed for 1,143 yards with eight touchdowns in 2022, main the league at 7.1 yards per carry.

Last season for New York, Fields began 9 video games, compiling a 2-7 file. He accomplished 62.7 p.c of his passes for 1,1259 yards with seven touchdowns and one interception. He took 71 carries for 383 yards with 4 TDs, which works out to five.4 yards per try.