EJ Manuel: New York Jets will 'get it right' with Justin Fields

Four years ago, the Chicago Bears viewed Justin Fields as a franchise quarterback, taking him with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Fields, 26, is now with his third franchise.

It didn’t work out in Chicago. He didn’t get many opportunities to prove himself in his lone season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The New York Jets, however, see something in Fields, signing him to a two-year, $40 million contract earlier this offseason. This might be Fields’ last chance to prove he can be one of 32 starting quarterbacks in the NFL. ESPN analyst EJ Manuel believes Fields in New York will work.

“I think Justin is at a point where he’s tired of people hating on him and he’s tired of people doubting him. Also, you got a new head coach in Aaron Glenn, who’s going to have a vested interest in making sure Justin Fields has success,” Manuel said on Friday’s Get Up. “They’re going to create the offense around him and let him be him. … They’re going to get it right in New York with Justin Fields at QB.”

Justin Fields gets one more opportunity as NFL starter

Last offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers acquired Fields from the Chicago Bears and signed Russell Wilson to a one-year deal following his release from the Denver Broncos. Head coach Mike Tomlin named Wilson the starter over Fields coming out of training camp and the preseason, but a calf injury forced him to miss the first six games of the season. Fields led Pittsburgh to a 4-2 record before making way for Wilson. 

After Wilson returned, Fields was used sporadically throughout the season. Fields finished the season completing a career-high 65.8% of his passes for 1,106 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. He added 289 rushing yards and five additional scores.

Fields’ best friend on the field will undoubtedly be receiver Garrett Wilson. Teammates at Ohio State, the two are reunited in the NFL.

“I’ll just say that, he trusts me, I trust him, we’ve got a good communication, we speak to each other well, we know what the other is thinking and that’s key,” Wilson said, via Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. “Him being able to say: ‘Garrett, I don’t want you running like that, that was the wrong route.’ Stuff like that in a certain way where he knows I’m not going to take it the wrong way. And we’re just trying to get the best out of each other. I know what he can do. I still think the world’s gotta see it. We all got something to prove on this team.”