Who Should I Start? Taylor Heinicke or Justin Fields

Wednesday, August 28, 8:22 PM

The Los Angeles Chargers are acquiring quarterback Taylor Heinicke from the Atlanta Falcons on Wednesday in exchange for a conditional sixth-round draft pick. Not only is starting quarterback Justin Herbert (foot) recovering from plantar fasciitis in his foot, but backup Easton Stick regressed in training camp and the preseason. The 31-year-old Heinicke will be an upgrade at the QB position behind Herbert entering the regular season next week. In Atlanta, the Falcons were expected all along to try and trade Heinicke after taking rookie Michael Penix Jr. in the first round in April. Heinicke made his NFL debut back in 2017 with the Houston Texans and has appeared in 38 games (29 starts) since then with four different teams. His best year came in 2021 with Washington, when he threw for 3,419 yards, 20 touchdowns and 15 picks on 321 pass attempts over 16 games (15 starts).

Monday, February 3, 9:00 PM

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that some in the Pittsburgh Steelers organization are comfortable with Justin Fields as the starting quarterback in 2025. Fields has upside and more mobility than impending free-agent QB Russell Wilson. However, an NFC executive said that Fields didn't have much chemistry with wide receiver George Pickens, so that could play a part in who the Steelers choose to move forward with in 2025. Both Fields and Wilson will be free agents in March, and the Steelers are only expected to keep one of them moving forward. The 25-year-old Fields may be a better rushing asset than Wilson, but what he gains in mobility, he lacks in downfield passing and accuracy. The former first-rounder of the Chicago Bears in 2021 went 4-2 as a starter for Pittsburgh in 2024, throwing for 1,106 yards, five TDs and one pick while also rushing for 289 yards and five more scores.