Preseason Showdown: Fields and Nussmeier Make Their Case
As the Kansas City Chiefs wrap up their preseason against the Seattle Seahawks on Friday night, quarterbacks Justin Fields and rookie Garrett Nussmeier are making final pushes to secure their spots on the roster. Both players have taken advantage of extended playing time in the Chiefs' first two preseason games while Patrick Mahomes recovers from knee surgery that sidelined him for the 2025 season but is expected to start on Sept. 14 against the Denver Broncos.
Fields, a former first-round pick who was once expected to be the face of the Chicago Bears franchise, arrived in Kansas City via a trade with the New York Jets and has had a light preseason workload. In the Chiefs' most recent game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he completed 9 of 12 passes for 64 yards and added 15 yards rushing, posting an 86.8 quarterback rating. This followed a strong preseason opener against the Las Vegas Rams on Aug. 15, where he was 4-for-4 for 41 yards in the Chiefs' 20-12 loss.
Head coach Andy Reid praised Fields' performance, noting "Justin, I thought, had some good plays in there. A couple of nice throws on the move." Despite Fields' efficiency, the Chiefs lost to the Buccaneers 16-15.
Fields' career has seen ups and downs since his early days with the Bears. After being traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in March 2024, he went 4-2 in six starts, throwing for 1,106 yards and running for 289, with 10 total touchdowns and only two turnovers. The Steelers, however, decided not to invest in him long-term, and he signed a two-year deal with the Jets, where he posted a 2-7 record last season.
Now 27, Fields is content being a backup for the Chiefs, but he added that he hopes his preseason film can "impress someone and help earn him another opportunity" in the future.
Nussmeier's Rise from Late Pick
Garrett Nussmeier found himself in a very different position. Selected in the seventh round as the 249th pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, he was the 10th quarterback taken and just the ninth-to-last pick overall. Yet through two preseason games, Nussmeier has shown a level of play that suggests he belongs in the NFL.
Nussmeier came to the Chiefs with a strong pedigree: He earned a third-round grade in the KCSN Draft Guide and passed for over 4,000 yards with 29 touchdowns in his junior season at LSU. His draft stock fell partly due to his decision to stay at LSU for a final year, which resulted in battling injuries and a 5-4 record as starter for the Tigers. However, his preseason performance has turned heads, with Andy Reid calling his efforts.
Reid said of Nussmeier, "Every time he's in, he moves the ball." He also praised the rookie for making some tough throws and handling things well, stating "he handled things well and is getting more comfortable." In the game against Tampa Bay, Nussmeier completed just over half of his 17 throws for 74 yards, including a crucial 17-yard to Jalen Royals, though he also had back-to-back poorly timed passes.
The Chiefs have historically kept only two quarterbacks on the active roster, which puts Nussmeier in a critical position. If placed on the practice squad he might be claimed by another team, which would make him a reward to hold on the 53-man roster for Kansas City.
Analyzing the Quarterback Trio
In the Buccaneers game, the trio of Fields, Nussmeier, and Chris Oladokun combined to complete 23 of 35 passes for 155 yards, with no touchdowns and a single interception. The interception was thrown by Oladokun, who had his pass to Tre Watson tipped and then dropped before being intercepted, a play that Reid defended as a big third-down attempt.
According to data from TruMedia, Fields' 15-yard run carried a 2.5 EPA, while Nussmeier's deep-ball pass interference drew 3.2 EPA and Oladokun's interception was a -4.6. Overall, the group's output was "ugly" according to Sports Illustrated, but Reid saw positives.
Nussmeier's father, Doug, is the offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints, and the young quarterback had a standout year at LSU, throwing for more than 4,000 yards and 29 touchdowns as a junior. Despite his talent, he fell to the seventh round because of his injury-riddled final season and a recency bias that most draft evaluations carry.
The Keystones of Mahomes and Reid
Both Fields and Nussmeier are learning behind a two-time MVP and three-time Super Bowl champion in Mahomes, and an offensive coach in Andy McBride, who has two past great quarterbacks. Nussmeier noted his sum:
"I'm super grateful to be here. This is something that I've dreamed about my entire life," he told TSN. "I wake up and this is my life right now. I try to make the most of it. It's a little bit humbling and awesome. I'm in such a great room with two great quarterbacks... so you know, just trying to learn everything I can."
Nussmeier's father, who is the offensive coordinator of the Saints, has been a guiding influence, but he's also have a close connection to the team.
For Fields, this preseason is a chance to remind the league of his talent after a few years of decline with the hope that his film will open some eyes.