Justin Fields shrugs off Steelers “storyline” ahead of Jets’ Week 1 clash vs. Mike Tomlin’s team

Justin Fields is treating the New York Jets' regular-season opener like any other game. Sunday's contest will pit Fields against his former team, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Even though he’ll be going up against the Jets’ former quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Fields told Rich Cimi of ESPN that there’s no "storyline" for him.

“It’s ball for me, so I’ll let you guys kind of handle the storylines, the news lines and stuff like that. In the locker room, we just keep it straight ball,” Fields said.

Fields considered returning to the Steelers after the 2024 season, but instead signed with the Jets. He has never faced Rodgers in an NFL game before, though the former Chicago Bears first-round pick said he once exchanged jerseys with the four-time league MVP.

Rodgers is playing for his third team in four years, while Fields is on his third team in three years. The 26-year-old was asked if he had any animosity towards the Steelers and how things ended.

“No, not at all,” he replied. “I was in a spot last year where I was able to see the game from a different perspective. I learned a lot from Russ (Wilson) and just all the other vets there, so not at all.”

Fields went 4-2 as the Steelers’ starting quarterback last season before Russell Wilson replaced him.

Running the ball a key focus for Fields’ offense

With Fields under center, the Jets likely plan to run the ball often. Fields, at worst, averaged 4.7 yards per carry in his NFL career.

Add to that the fact that they have Breece Hall, Braelon Allen and Isiah Davis available, it stands to reason Aaron Glenn will focus on a smash-mouth rushing attack offensively.

It's an area the Jets struggled at throughout the 2024 campaign, averaging just 91.8 rushing yards per game, the second-fewest in the NFL.

In his sophomore campaign with the Bears, Fields led the league in average yards per carry out of the backfield (7.1). At the same time, he took more sacks than any QB that season (55).

Fields has set numerous NFL rushing records, including most yards on the ground by a quarterback with 178 against the Miami Dolphins in November 2022. He has an overall record of 14-30 as a starting QB.