An uneven summer for Justin Fields has tempered expectations for the Jets entering the 2025 regular season.
General manager Darren Mougey believes it's all part of Fields' process in becoming a late-blooming franchise quarterback much like Baker Mayfield or another former Jet, Sam Darnold.
"I do believe Justin can be one of those guys," Mougey said Thursday, via ESPN. "I've seen progress during this camp and look forward to seeing the progress throughout the season as they all come together.
"Obviously, it's his third stop in three years with three different coordinators and a lot of moving parts, so it does take time. But I like where he's at and I look forward to watching the progress."
Mougey's notes are accurate. Fields has known nothing but organizational turmoil since the Bears selected him 11th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, playing for two different head coaches and offensive coordinators in his first two years as part of a team in need of an overhaul.
Over the course of Fields' four years, he's played for three different head coaches and offensive coordinators. He avoided the chaotic game of musical chairs that occurred in Chicago last year but found himself riding the bench behind Russell Wilson in Pittsburgh for most of the 2024 season before seeking yet another new opportunity in 2025.
Some stability would be nice for once. He may have found it in New York, where Aaron Glenn took over the Jets in early 2025 and presented a starting opportunity to Fields in free agency. Fields jumped on the two-year, $40 million offer, providing New York with a defined starter and for Fields, perhaps his last chance to prove he's worthy of the role.
His preseason exposure was limited and wasn't exactly encouraging -- Fields finished 4 for 9 for 46 yards, including a rough 1-of-5 showing against the Giants -- but Mougey has seen enough in practice to believe Fields, a newly named team captain, is on the right track.
"I've seen him improve every day -- specifically, this past week," Mougey said. "I think we've really seen good rhythm out at practice with the offense -- a balanced attack, some runs, some pass, but just the overall operation, the command, his leadership. ... So, seeing that growth has been really good."
A new stop in his NFL journey means yet another offensive system (and coordinator) for Fields to learn. Fortunately, he's had most of 2025 to accomplish that. According to new OC Tanner Engstrand, Fields is in a good place with the scheme entering the regular season.
"I really like where Justin is at with the dropback passing concepts," offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand said recently. "He understands what we're trying to do. He understands what we're trying to attack, where the ball needs to go, and I think, every day we're showing progress from Justin."
Practice field progress is subjective and vulnerable to confirmation bias, especially for a new staff looking to find its footing, but it's better than the alternative. The real tests arrive with the start of the regular season. We'll see if Fields can prove his coaches right.
