The Kansas City Chiefs made a point of talking up Justin Fields after trading for him, and Andy Reid’s comments suggested there was real belief he could be developed into a quarterback who could throw effectively.
That optimism ran into a rougher reality during OTAs and minicamp, when Fields reportedly struggled and was spraying passes all over the field. Most of that stayed out of public view, but multiple reports pointed in that direction, and Fields soon faded from the conversation as the Chiefs shifted to more reporting about Patrick Mahomes being able to start in Week 1.
Now the question is what, if anything, Fields actually does for Kansas City this summer. The latest reports have the Chiefs exploring a short-yardage package for him, which would at least give him a defined role if it comes to pass.
But that kind of usage comes with a built-in problem. Teams have tried similar ideas before, and it usually ends the same way: the offense gets narrowed so much that defenses can sit on what’s coming. In other words, the plays that were supposed to be a wrinkle start getting swallowed up.
A Fields package would also help explain why the Chiefs still haven’t re-signed de facto fullback Kareem Hunt. Hunt was surprisingly effective in short-yardage situations last season, and he could still return in camp. But his continued availability suggests other teams have their doubts about whether he can do the same job in a different system.
There’s also the possibility that Kansas City plans to lean on Kenneth Walker III in those situations. That’s certainly on the table, but Walker is expected to carry a heavy workload this season, and defenses will already be focused on him. That makes it tough to see that approach working consistently.
For now, the Chiefs’ short-yardage plan remains murky. Teams usually keep a back like Hunt around to complement a player like Walker, but there still isn’t a clear picture of what Kansas City is trying to build - or even whether there’s a firm plan at all.
Training camp should bring more clarity. If Fields again disappears into the quarterback version of witness protection, that would be a strong sign he’s not headed for a major role in Kansas City this season. At that point, even a cut would not be out of the question, given where he is in his well-traveled quarterback journey.
In Other News...
Andy Reid May Be Rethinking A Chiefs Tendency Fans Hate
A Pro Football Focus look at the Chiefs first-down tendencies offers a familiar reminder about how Andy Reid has been shaping the offense: when the down and distance are fresh, Kansas City has leaned hard into the run and into more traditional quarterback alignments. The Chiefs have also shown a different look on first down than they do later in series, lining up under center more often and using the shotgun in a way that stands out from the rest of their playbook.
For a team that has long lived on Patrick Mahomes ability to stress defenses in space, that kind of early-down balance is worth watching as the season unfolds. The bigger question is whether the Chiefs keep leaning into those opening-script runs and the heavier first-down structure, or whether the offense trims back some of the run-pass option work early while adjusting to what this version of the roster can and cannot do. [Read more 🡒]
Ex Chiefs Star Makes Bold Mahomes Debate Call That Fans Will Argue Over
A familiar quarterback debate has spilled back into the Mahomes conversation, and this one comes with a former Chiefs guard in the middle of it. Geoff Schwartz pushed back on ESPN analyst Ryan Clarks assertion that Lamar Jackson is the NFLs most accomplished quarterback outside of Patrick Mahomes, making the case that Aaron Rodgers still owns that spot on the strength of a resume that includes three MVP awards, a Super Bowl title and a Super Bowl MVP.
The argument is the kind that never really dies in NFL circles, especially when Rodgers remains a topic of weekly discussion even at this stage of his career. Colin Cowherd has also called Rodgers undervalued, and with Rodgers set for another season with the Pittsburgh Steelers under Mike McCarthy, the backdrop only adds another layer to a debate Chiefs fans know well: who, if anyone, is actually closest to Mahomes in the leagues quarterback hierarchy? [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Fans Will Get A Kick Out Of Clark Hunt Here
A street-side interview outside MetLife Stadium during the World Cup final turned into a little crossover moment for Kansas City fans, with a Kalshi reporter asking attendees and notable figures how much they paid to get in. The answers ran the gamut, from people who shelled out eye-popping sums to others who were invited or said they did not pay at all, giving the clip a mix of sticker shock and big-event theater.
Then came Clark Hunt, the Chiefs chairman and CEO, who was among the suited figures caught up in the scene and made clear he was enjoying the spectacle. For Chiefs fans, it is the kind of cameo that lands with a grin, a reminder that Hunt can show up in some pretty unexpected places when a major sports moment is unfolding. [Read more 🡒]