Will Justin Fields head to the Indianapolis Colts? The fourth-year quarterback is set to be a free agent this offseason. It’s unclear whether he’ll re-sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers or land somewhere else.
If Fields does leave Pittsburgh, perhaps Indianapolis could be his next home. Joel A. Erickson of Indystar.com wrote that Fields may be an option if the Colts move on from Anthony Richardson:
“Making matters more difficult, there aren’t any obvious upgrades on the horizon if the Colts wanted to move on from Richardson after two years, a decision they’ve given no indication of making. Atlanta’s Kirk Cousins and Pittsburgh backup Justin Fields may be the best veteran options if Minnesota re-signs Sam Darnold; the Colts will not hold a pick high enough to have a shot at Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders or Miami’s Cam Ward in a draft that is widely considered to be thin on quarterback talent.”
As Erickson stated, the Colts have not given any indication that they’ll give up on Richardson. The Florida product is expected to be the starter next season. But you never know, maybe Indianapolis will move on and replace him with Fields in the offseason.
Justin Fields Could Sign with the Indianapolis Colts This Offseason
His Career So Far
The Chicago Bears selected Justin Fields with the 11th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. He started 10 games as a rookie in Chicago. The Georgia native threw for 1,870 yards and seven touchdowns. He also rushed for 420 yards and two touchdowns.
During the 2022 season, Fields passed for 2,242 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also contributed 1,143 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on the ground. He joined Michael Vick and Lamar Jackson as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.
Fields threw for 2,562 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2023. He produced 657 rushing yards and four touchdowns as well.
The Bears landed the first overall pick in the 2024 draft and selected fellow quarterback Caleb Williams. That opened the door for Fields to be traded to the Steelers.
Should the Colts Sign Him?
This has been a disappointing season for the Colts. The 7-9 squad shattered their playoff dreams with their recent loss to the New York Giants.
One reason for their struggles is inconsistent quarterback play. Richardson hasn’t been impressive, completing just 47.7 percent of his passes. He was benched earlier this season in favor of the 39-year-old Joe Flacco. Many people are wondering if Richardson is the long-term answer in Indy.
If the Colts decide to part ways with Richardson, Justin Fields could be a decent replacement. He doesn’t have half the arm that Richardson does. However, he serves as a dual-threat QB who can help a team win games.
Justin Fields would be an upgrade. Yet, the Colts need to keep Richardson around for at least another year. He’s only 22 years old and has time to develop into the franchise quarterback the Colts hope he can be. They just need to be patient with him.
Main Photo: [Marc Lebryk] – USA Today Sports
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