The Giants’ quarterback search has already taken a strange turn, and it’s only Week 3. With Jaxson Dart out for the season because of a knee injury, New York is suddenly staring at a very different kind of problem under center. Jameis Winston is set to get a test against the Tennessee Titans, but if the Giants decide they need another arm, ESPN’s Adam Schefter says one name to watch is Chiefs backup Justin Fields.
That idea makes some sense on paper. Fields has never quite settled into the kind of run that makes teams stop looking over their shoulder, but he still carries traits that keep him in the conversation.
The Giants are looking for help after Dart’s injury, and Fields gives them a mobile option who can change the shape of an offense. He has nearly 2,900 rushing yards in five NFL seasons, and that athletic profile fits the kind of quarterback approach John Harbaugh has worked with before in Baltimore.
Fields is also not coming out of nowhere. The Chiefs brought him in this offseason with the idea that Patrick Mahomes might not be ready for Week 1, and Andy Reid was clear about why Kansas City wanted him. Reid said, "We brought him in ‘cause he’s a legitimate quarterback and a starting quarterback in the National Football League, and we’re lucky enough to have him here."
Still, the Giants’ interest would be a little surprising given what Fields has done in recent stops. He went 2-7 in nine starts with the New York Jets a year ago and posted a 38.7 QBR. He has also had time in Pittsburgh and Chicago, and that track record raises the obvious question: what exactly are the Giants hoping to unlock now?
From Kansas City’s side, there’s a reason this kind of move feels unlikely. The Chiefs built their quarterback setup around Fields as the backup, and they even have offensive packages tailored to what he can do.
In-season, contenders usually prefer not to shake up that room unless they have to. But Mahomes has not only been healthy enough to start in Week 1 - he looks like he’s back to his MVP form.
If the “Mahomes insurance” idea no longer feels as urgent, that could change the calculation a bit.
There’s also the matter of Garrett Nussmeier, the seventh-round rookie the Chiefs drafted in April. He’s inexperienced, and moving Fields would leave Kansas City leaning on a much greener option if Mahomes were to go down. Even so, Nussmeier did look the part in preseason.
Even with all that, a Fields trade still reads like a long shot. Kansas City would be giving up the quarterback it just acquired this offseason, shifting away from the plan it already put in place, and potentially asking a rookie to handle the emergency backup role.
That’s a lot to unwind. For the Giants, the cleaner path may be to look somewhere else or stick with Winston rather than trying to pry Fields away.
Another name tied to New York is Gardner Minshew. He spent last year as QB2 for the Chiefs behind Mahomes, then took over after Mahomes went down with torn knee ligaments before suffering a leg injury one game later. Minshew is now with the Arizona Cardinals behind Jacoby Brissett.
In Other News...
Chiefs Suddenly Have Real Stakes At Left Tackle Against Miami
Kansas City heads into its matchup with Miami with one of its most important protection questions still hanging over the week. Josh Simmons will not be available at left tackle, which leaves the Chiefs to sort out how they want to handle Patrick Mahomes blind side against a Dolphins defense that has given them plenty to think about before kickoff. There is some relief elsewhere on the roster, though, with cornerback Mansoor Delane set to be available and several key players, including Mahomes, officially cleared from the injury report.
The broader injury picture tilts more in Kansas Citys favor than Miamis, with the Dolphins set to be without wide receiver Caleb Douglas because of an ankle injury and running back Jaylen Wright also doubtful. Even so, the Chiefs attention is likely to stay on the tackle spot, where the absence of Simmons turns a routine week into a test of depth and flexibility. For a team built around Mahomes, the line in front of him often shapes the whole game, and this one has suddenly become a real storyline. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Receiver Search Starts With 5 Names Fans Should Track Now
The Chiefs receiver hunt is already underway, and it is happening well before the usual draft chatter really takes hold. Kansas City scouts are evaluating a small group of college pass catchers during the 2026 season, with Texas wideout Ryan Wingo, Clemsons Bryant Wesco Jr. and TJ Moore, Cals Ian Strong, and Illinois receiver Collin Dixon all on the radar as the team keeps searching for more stability on the perimeter.
There is obvious urgency behind the work. The Chiefs have dealt with inconsistencies at wide receiver, and Rashee Rices looming free agency only sharpens the need to find another reliable option in the passing game. For now, the job is simple enough: keep watching these names week after week and see which one looks like the best fit for a team that may need help there sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Are Asking Rashee Rice To Do Something Risky
The Chiefs have been using Rashee Rice in a new offensive wrinkle that borrows from a Los Angeles Rams concept, one that asks the receiver to do more than just get open. Its a physical job built around blocking and a C-Gap insert route, and Rice has already been working it into games as Kansas City looks to create more play-action chances and keep defenses guessing.
Its a fitting showcase for Rice, who has earned praise from offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy for the way hes handled the assignment. Still, the role comes with a built-in concern for Kansas City, since Rices smaller frame and the teams thin wide receiver depth make every extra collision feel a little more consequential, especially with his contract situation still unsettled. [Read more 🡒]