Chiefs quarterback battle has clear frontrunner as ‘bad habits’ lead to obvious outcome for Justin Fields

Jun 8, 2026 - 20:30

The Kansas City Chiefs have a quarterback battle of their own going on.

On the surface, it sounds odd. Kansas City have had Patrick Mahomes lead them to three Vince Lombardi’s since he was drafted in 2017.

Patrick Mahomes (15) of the Kansas City Chiefs yells prior to Super Bowl LIX against the Philadelphia Eagles at Caesars Superdome on February 09, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Eagles defeated the Chiefs 40-22. — The Chiefs have won three Super Bowls since Mahomes was drafted in 2017

The reality for the Chiefs is that Mahomes’ status for Week 1 of the 2026 NFL regular season is in doubt, and someone needs to fill his shoes if he is not ready.

The three-time MVP tore his ACL and LCL in the Week 14 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, but has been seen participating in OTA drills.

This offseason, the Chiefs brought in Justin Fields from the New York Jets, to act as the bridge and then backup to Mahomes given the uncertainty around his recovery.

Fields was drafted 11th overall by the Chicago Bears in 2021, and spent three seasons there, before departing for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

After one year in the Steel City, he landed with the Jets, where he was benched by Week 8 following an 0-7 start.

Fields entered OTA’s as the presumptive QB2, with the chance to make some unique NFL history.

However, his 2026 outlook got cloudier when LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier fell to the Chiefs in the NFL Draft.

Fields still ahead of Nussmeier on QB depth chart

According to beat reporters Matt Derrick (Chiefs Digest) and Nick Jacobs (KSHB 41), Fields has separated himself from the rest of the pack during OTA’s

“I thought that his last couple of series that he had were the best we’ve seen of Justin Fields so far,” Derrick said on the ’41 is the Mic’ podcast,

“They allowed him to do play action [last week],” Jacobs explained.

Justin Fields #7 of the New York Jets looks to pass prior to an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. — After a shaky start, Fields has impressed during Kansas City’s OTA’s

Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier #18 of the LSU Tigers participates in quarterback drills at LSU's Pro Day on March 23, 2026 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. — The Chiefs selected Garrett Nussmeier in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft

“They allowed him to kind of move around and kind of maneuver, and I think that’s where his wheelhouse is [as a player]. I think that’s where he’s at his most comfortable.”

Jacobs acknowledged that Fields looked a little overwhelmed early during OTA’s, learning the Chiefs offense for the first time.

On the other side, entering the draft, some thought Nussmeier could be drafted ahead of Ty Simpson and Carson Beck after an impressive pro day.

Ultimately, he fell to Kansas City in the final round of the draft, but, his OTA performance has left more to be desired.

Derrick added that the seventh-rounder has a few “bad habits” to work out of his system after college, and labelled him more of a “project.”

In 2024 at LSU, Nussmeier claimed the starting role full-time, and delivered the most prolific first-year campaign in program history.

Garrett Nussmeier #QB13 of LSU participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. — Nussmeier’s ‘bad habits’ have eliminated chances for the rookie to challenge Fields

He posted 4,052 passing yards, 29 touchdowns, and 337 completions across 13 starts.

But he was heavily impacted by an abdominal injury in 2025, playing in just nine games. The talent is there, evidently.

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