Fields ‘ready for this next chapter’ after trade to Steelers

Justin Fields said goodbye to Chicago following his trade from the Bears to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday.

“Can’t say thank you enough to the city of Chicago for taking me in and embracing me,” Wilson posted on social media. “Thank you to the entire Bears organization and ownership for allowing me the opportunity to be part of such a historic franchise. But most of all thank you to my all my brothers that I played with. You all were the reason I attacked each day the way I did. I can’t thank you all enough for what y’all have meant to me over the last 3 years through the ups and downs. I wish each one of you nothing but success. Ready for this next chapter!” The next chapter apparently will be as the backup to veteran quarterback

Russell Wilson. The Steelers have seen an overhaul of their quarterback room, with Wilson signing a one-year deal, former starter Kenny Pickett being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles,

Mitchell Trubisky returning to the Buffalo

Bills, longtime backup

Mason Rudolph signing as a free agent with the Tennessee Titans and the acquisition of Fields for a conditional sixth-round draft pick.

That pick could become a fourth-rounder if Fields plays at least 50 percent of the snaps for Pittsburgh.

Reports Sunday indicated Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin reached out to both Wilson and Fields as the deal was closed on Saturday to let them know Wilson currently stands as the starter and Fields as QB2.

For his part, Wilson welcomed Fields on social media.

“Let’s get it @justnfields! QB room bout to be (three fire emojis),” he wrote.

Only 25, Fields threw for 2,562 yards with 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 13 starts in 2023.

He completed 61.4 percent of his throws and rushed for 657 yards and four touchdowns. Fields suffered a right thumb injury and missed four games last season for the 7-10 Bears.

The Bears selected him No. 11 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft.

The deal opens the door for Chicago to draft a quarterback, widely expected to be Southern California’s Caleb Williams,

with the No. 1 overall selection.

The Steelers traded Pickett because of the negative way Pickett was handling the arrival of quarterback Russell Wilson, sources told the Pittsburgh PostGazette. That came on the heels of his behavior last season, when Pickett appeared petulant at times over not regaining his starting position from Rudolph when he returned from ankle surgery. It came to a head in Week 17 in Seattle when Pickett refused to dress as the emergency third quarterback.

The Steelers drafted Pickett 20th overall in 2022. This was the fastest the Steelers have moved on from a No. 1 draft choice since they released offensive tackle Jamain Stephens, the 29th overall pick in the 1996 season, after his second season.

In return for Pickett, the

Steelers moved up 22 spots into the third round of this year’s draft — from No. 120 to 98 overall — and got two seventh-round picks in 2025.

ELSEWHERE

Commanders: Washington is signing cornerback Noah Igbinoghene to a free agent deal, according to multiple reports Sunday.

A first-round pick by the Dolphins in 2020, Igbinoghene will be playing for his third team. Miami traded him to the Dolphins last August, and he became a free agent at the end of the 2023 season.

He becomes the fourth member of the Cowboys’ 2023 roster to move to the rival Commanders since Washington hired Dan Quinn as head coach in February. Quinn was the defensive coordinator in Dallas the past three seasons. Igbinoghene, 24, is expected to play on special teams and provide depth in the secondary.

In 37 career games (five starts), he has recorded 29 tackles, one interception, five passes defensed and two fumble recoveries.

Browns: Quarterback

Tyler Huntley agreed to terms on a contract with Cleveland, multiple media outlets reported.

Huntley joins a crowded quarterback room consisting of Deshaun Watson, Jameis Winston and

Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

Huntley, 26, spent four seasons as a backup to

Lamar Jackson with the Baltimore Ravens. Huntley was named to the Pro Bowl in 2022 after completing 67.0 percent of his passes for 658 yards and two touchdowns in six games (four starts).