The Week 1 matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets was set to be a fiery reunion — a grudge match that had fans from both sides circling September on their calendars.
But just like that, the heat has simmered.
On the first day of Jets training camp, former Steelers quarterback Justin Fields suffered a toe injury during his first set of second-team reps. There's been no update on the severity of the injury.
Fields, expected to lead the Jets offense under new head coach Aaron Glenn, was carted off the field — a shocking scene for fans in New York and bittersweet news for fans in Pittsburgh.
It’s tough to see. Especially for fans who had this game emotionally bookmarked. Fields, after all, was once ours. He joined the Steelers last season with a lot of buzz and brought energy to the offense. Fields helped the team to a 4-2 start, throwing for 1,106 yards, five touchdowns, and just one interception.
He wasn’t perfect, but he was efficient and gutsy. He gave the Steelers a spark.
But the NFL is a business, and sometimes good stories don’t get happy endings. The Steelers had to make tough roster decisions this offseason. Letting go of Fields was one of them. His style, his limitations, and the team’s vision simply didn’t align.
That doesn’t make it easy. I was rooting for the guy — still am.
The Pittsburgh Steelers need to keep an eye out for any Justin Fields injury updates
Fields didn’t stay on the market for long. The Jets swooped in, offering him a two-year, $40 million deal and a shot at redemption in the Big Apple. It looked like a win-win: Fields got a fresh start, and the Jets got a young, mobile QB to build around.
He dove right in, syncing up with Coach Glenn and immersing himself in the team’s new playbook.
Then came Thursday morning. One play. One awkward step. One cart ride off the field. Just like that, everything changed.
As of now, the Jets haven’t confirmed the severity of the injury, but it’s serious enough to cast real doubt over Fields’ Week 1 status. If he’s sidelined, the Jets will be forced to pivot — likely scrambling for a viable starter just weeks before the season opener.
That kind of uncertainty changes the entire dynamic of the game.
For the Steelers, it may tilt the scales in their favor. Starting the season on the road is never easy, but facing a Jets team without Fields could be a critical early advantage in what’s shaping up to be a make-or-break year for Mike Tomlin’s squad.
Still, my first reaction wasn’t excitement or strategic speculation. It was disappointment.
I hate to see Fields go down like that, especially when he was finally getting another shot to lead. I’m thankful for what he gave us in Pittsburgh. He battled. He believed. And he never complained.
Now, all we can do is wait for updates on his health and for Week 1 to arrive. One thing’s for sure: the stakes are still high, but the emotional fire surrounding this game may have dimmed — at least for now.