Justin Fields may be figuratively wearing one of the six "C" decals designating the Jets' captains for the start of the new season on Sunday. But he could be wearing a triple-C on his jersey just as well.

"Cool, calm and collected," the Jets quarterback said of his sense of anticipation after Tuesday's practice as the week moves relentlessly toward the season opener against Pittsburgh with the multi-sidebar potential:

Aaron Glenn in his first game as an NFL head coach going up against longtime friend and foe, Pittsburgh HC Mike Tomlin. All-Pro Steelers pass rusher T.J. Watt rushing early and often against first-round rookie RT Armand Membou in his first game as a pro. All-Pro CB Sauce Gardner vs. Pro Bowl WR D.K. Metcalf in DKM's first game for the Black & Gold.

And at the top of the lineup: Former Steelers QB Fields in his first game as a Jet trying to outduel former Jets QB Aaron Rodgers in his first game as a Steeler.

Yawn. Fields means absolutely no respect, but as he said post-practice to reporters:

"The storylines are crazy. ... But it's no storyline for me. It's ball for me," he said. "I'll let you guys handle the storylines and the newslines. In the locker room, it's just straight ball for us."

It is true what Glenn and the QB's teammates continue to say about their new leader of the offense, of their team, of the building, and of the Jets' part of the New York football market. He's ice-cold, until he has to be white-hot come gameday.

"He's just been working very hard to perfect his craft, working on his weaknesses and strengths just like I do, just like everybody does," Gardner said. "I've learned how confident he is. He's probably not going to do too much talking. He'd rather be more humble than just be caught up in the hype."

But of course the hype machines began humming a while back. Social media's Green & White sector melted for a while when Fields got his foot stepped on in practice at the start of training camp. A stretch of sluggish camp offense was met by moans, which quickly morphed into euphoria when crisp passing and elusive scrambles produced his intriguing TD run on the first drive of the first preseason game at Green Bay.

Fields doesn't get caught up in the hype, but he feels it.

"For sure, most definitely," he said of sensation of having Jets Nation behind him. "It feels great. I think Jets fans are some of the most passionate in the league. I'm happy to be here, happy to have them support us."

His teammates haven't tired of their quiet, quick signal-caller either.

"I think Justin is a great talent, man," RG Alijah Vera-Tucker said this week. "I've seen what he can do, so just bringing that talent in here, I think it's great for this team. He can sling the rock when he's feeling real confident back there, when we're giving him time, and then obviously he's just a naturally gifted athlete. So it's cool when a team's got to account for that. It makes it a little fun game-planning."

"It's just understanding exactly who he is and what he likes when it comes to the passing game and the running game," Glenn said of the dull Xs and Os of having Fields direct the Jets offense instead of the crazy story angles. "Where does he want receivers to be, in certain spots on the field, to make sure that the connection is on point?

"And here's the thing: We're also going to continue to learn as the season progresses."

But what about those storylines? This is believed to be the first time two QBs have started a season opener against the teams they started for the season prior. Rodgers is the still wily, not-as-mobile-as-he-used-to-be vet and future Hall of Famer. Fields is the up-and-comer who has methodically improved his passing each of his four previous pro seasons and is already among the NFL's top-tier rushing QBs.

How will Fields be greeted when he's introduced to the MetLife Stadium faithful? How will Rodgers, who still talks about his warm welcome as the Jets' flag-bearer before their 2023 "MNF" opener, be greeted? How soon before we see a sign or two: "7 > 8"? Will those signs and others be waving all game long and on into the evening after opening day?

Fields appreciates the hoopla. He will just not get an appendage caught in the unfolding scene. Yes, he's wearing the C, but also the CCC. He's the new face of the Jets that Joe Namath built years ago, but he's got a job to do.

He said he ran into Rodgers before, "after games, nothing other than that. I got his jersey after one game when I played him in Chicago." What season might that have been? "I'm not sure. ... I have no idea.

"It's just another game, to be honest with you," he said. "We're just looking to win games. That's the whole point of us being here. We're just trying to get better each and every day, preparing for Sunday."