Quarterback Justin Fields hopes the third time is the charm for him as his time with the New York Jets is officially underway. Fields recently showed up for the start of the Jets’ OTAs and spoke with the media from the facility.
While the city and most of his teammates will take some getting used to, Fields knows one guy on the roster really well: wide receiver Garrett Wilson. Today, Fields told the media how he feels about this reunion.
Jets’ New QB Justin Fields Is Reliving the Glory Days
Fields found glory at Ohio State after transferring from the University of Georgia. He spent two seasons with the Buckeyes and became a household name. In 2019, his first season in Ohio, he led the undefeated team to a Big Ten Championship and a spot in the College Football Playoffs.
In his second and final season at OSU, Fields came in as a leading contender for the Heisman Trophy, though he ultimately finished third in the voting. He helped Ohio State to another undefeated season and the Big Ten Championship. The Buckeyes once again made the playoffs, but this time, they lost in the National Championship Game to Alabama.
Wilson was there with Fields in Ohio for his two seasons and quickly became one of the young quarterback’s favorite targets. Fields told the media, according to a video on X, that he is thrilled with the opportunity to reunite with Wilson in New York.
“It’s awesome. When I saw him, it’s just like the old days. Definitely excited to play with him,” Fields told the media when asked if he is looking forward to playing with Wilson again.
He went on to say that they complement each other nicely and make each other better. Fields told the press that he feels their relationship hasn’t skipped a beat and indicated they do help make each other better.
“There’s things we can do to help each other get better and get back on the same page as we were in college,” said Fields about how he and Wilson can reestablish chemistry. “Of course, communicate, make sure we’re always on the same page when it comes to concepts, and routes, and what he’s doing in certain situations. I’m definitely excited to be back on the field with him, for sure.”
In terms of their two seasons together, Fields and Wilson are perhaps best remembered for a magical mid-air catch the latter pulled off on a throw from Fields against Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl. In total, they connected 66 times for 1,031 yards and nine touchdowns.
There are questions about how Fields will fit into the Jets’ offense since he is a unique player. Fields is well known for his ability to run and escape from defenders. During his single season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he showed improvement despite only starting in six games.
PFSN’s QB+ metric for 2024 gave Fields a grade of 78.1, a C+. That is better than the grade his teammate Russell Wilson (75.3) got for his time under center.
Fields hopes to catch lightning in a bottle with Wilson and the Jets. While his talent is undisputed, he lacks the consistency an NFL team needs. A quarterback rarely gets a third shot at being a starter, and Fields needs to make the best out of it if he doesn’t want to be relegated to a backup role.