The Steelers moved quickly in the wake of the NFL’s new kick return rules being approved. Pittsburgh added Cordarrelle Patterson on a two-year deal, and his return skills played a central role in the team’s interest. 
Under the new format, however, teams may line up a pair of returners on a play, so multiple options could be in play for the Steelers. An unlikely scenario – albeit one which appears to be under consideration – could see backup quarterback Justin Fields used as a return man. The idea has been brought up by Pittsburgh special teams coordinator Danny Smith.
“[Smith] was talking about Justin Fields being back there,” running back Jaylen Warren said during an appearance on teammate Cameron Heyward‘s Not Just Football podcast. “We’re like, ‘Hold up, hold up.’ We looked at him like, ‘Justin Fields is about to be back there?’ I don’t know. I think it’s cool” (h/t ESPN’s Brooke Pryor).
Fields is among the most athletic quarterbacks in the NFL, and his rushing ability was on full display during his time with the Bears. One of the goals of the new kickoff alignment was to make the play safer, meaning returners could face a lower injury risk than in years past. Still, using Fields – currently set to operate as Pittsburgh’s backup quarterback, albeit one who is believed to be in the team’s post-2024 plans – on special teams would constitute quite the surprise.
Both Pryor and Mark Kaboly of The Athletic (subscription required) note it is unlikely Fields sees any time as a returner. The 25-year-old will enter his first Pittsburgh training camp aiming to unseat Russell Wilson for the starter’s job, but it will be interesting to see if he is used in any unorthodox capacities as the offseason unfolds.
This comment was a total joke and for some reason the media is running with it. Makes zero sense to put fields at returner
Why? He sure as hell isn’t a decent QB!!
Why not? Anyway to earn an NFL contract works for me.
I totally agree with you. Kaboly is a joke as a reporter. They signed Patterson for this. And make no doubt, fields is their future.
If Fields was there future, then why bring in Russ? He’s a 3 year starter. Justin doesn’t need to ‘sit & learn’ for a year. He was cheap in both draft costs and on the books which is why they traded for him.
Russ was brought in first. Not saying Fields is the future but the team needed a backup after dealing Pickett. They don’t have a lot invested in Fields
Add to that Russ is 36. How many more years does he have? And this is a prove it year. If he turns in a great season, then what, another stratospheric contract?
Fields was a good get as either a back up plan or as “the future”. Much better athlete and QB than Pickett, although that’s not saying much.
And while some fans may scoff and say that the kid will never be a starting QB given what they saw in Chicago, what’s the harm in trying to refine his play
But agree with the comments above. This is a non-story. They got Cordarelle just for the reason of being a returner
They already turned down his 5th year option. That and being a backup to a 36 year old guy on a small contract does not scream out “future” to me.
Fields need to find a starting gig, even if he takes league minimum.
Disagree, Joe. Because really, Fields is in “prove it” mode, too
I mean, how do you pick up his 5th year option based solely on what he’s shown so far? Might as well negotiate an extension with Wilson while they’re at it, if they are this ‘giving’ where finances are concerned
Why not simply watch how it all plays out this season and go from there? I’ve even come around to not picking up Najee’s option with that in mind
Spin the wheel, see where it lands, have ample cap flexibility to choose a path from there.
It makes the most sense to me for the Offense. And I think thats exactly what they are doing.
Turning down his fifth year option does not mean that they don’t think he might be their future starter. And he essentially is making the league minimum as far as the Steelers are concerned… because Denver is paying practically all of Russell’s contract this year, the Steelers are playing with some house cash.
Also, should we on the one hand suggest that he should be able to find a starting job somewhere else, yet on the other criticize him for not being handed the starting gig over Wilson? Russell is no longer elite, but he is still a legitimate starting QB option in this league.
Unless he starts 6+ games and is stellar in all of them, Fields won’t have much on which to demand much in free agency.
All teams do this …not picking up the 5th year. Then they mostly sign the player to a multi year contract. Why can’t people understand this logic
Does it change my point? Fields isn’t the future and being tried as a punter returner proves that.
No, it speaks to his athleticism more than anything else. And again, take what you read with a grain of salt. Not only do they have Kordarelle, but Austin is a punt returner. Seems to me someone was having fun with this comment
That said, I’d be surprised if there aren’t plays designed for Fields. Why not? Give opponents different looks
The casual ramblings of a special teams coach should be taken with a grain of salt- not as proof of anything.
Or Russ for that matter. He’s being paid by the Broncos.
Cheap, yes… but also more talented than anyone they put out there last season.
And way more talented than who they had at the time at backup QB… which was no one. Russ was acquired, then Pickett was traded, then Rudolph signed with Tenn (although I’m pretty sure he wasn’t returning regardless)… and THEN they traded for Fields. Trubisky was in Buffalo before all of this, and Kyle Allen was only signed after the Wilson trade.
So their depth chart at the time of the Fields trade was… Russell.
If Fields was talented, he’d be worth more than a 6th round pick and would have picked up his option.
They brought Wilson in first then traded for fields. Check your facts before you troll
Wait. Kaboly specifically said in the article that he suspects that Fields sees any time as a returner, so your comment disses Kaboly as a reporter? For what?
That would be insane.
The new Slash!
Make him punt too!
Im teasing, but I don’t hate the idea as much as some here.
But I think it’s also a skill that you need to learn. You really cant just expect someone to be a returner bc they are athletic, and it would take away from the more important reps at QB.
It would just be a gimmick or the perception of one.
Antwaan Randle El returned punts his senior year in college at Indiana despite being the team’s starting qb since his freshman year. In the pros he had a successful 8 year career as a WR and returner and is the only WR to ever throw a touchdown in the Super Bowl.
Massive difference, particularly in terms of risk/reward, having a qb return punts in the pros as opposed to college and I’m not saying that just because Randle El did it that Fields can but it’s not unreasonable to believe that Fields would be a successful returner. The Steelers shouldn’t and won’t risk that though. I would however like to see a small package of plays that have both Wilson and Fields lined up together in shotgun with either RB there too. How can a defense get any pre-snap read on that formation? Is it a run? A pass? Is sending one of the shotgun sidecars out wide to run a route just a decoy for an inside power run? Who is even going to be getting the snap?
Right, but Randle also didn’t play QB in the NFL either.
Its much different.
A decoy play? Sure. That isn’t uncommon all.
But my point is that he needs the reps at QB if he going to remain a QB.
I sincerely doubt your backup QB is going to return kicks consistently outside of a gadget play.
Sure Fields loves the idea of goin frm nfl starting QB to special teams guy. Hell, make em long snapper while your @it. Steelers strive for .500. Tomlin is new Jeff Fisher.
They don’t have a strong enough QB3 to do that this year and risk injury.
Creative thought by Smith, never would have been approved. Whether they think Fields is the future or not. Can’t have your backup QB getting hurt trying to get an additional 5yds on a kickoff.
If this is being considered (and I doubt that it is), I wouldn’t hate the idea.
Also, I would politely suggest that someone tell Warren to stop being so quotable… he’s also the guy who suggested how much better the leadership is this season in the QB room. He might be right, he almost certainly is right… but that doesn’t mean we need to know either. 😉
It was obvious that Diontae, Pickens and Najee perked up when Rudolph became starter and it spoke volumes about their feelings regarding the abilities of Pickett and Trubisky
Pickett’s childish behavior after the Wilson trade only lent credence to the rumors that he pouted when he was replaced, refused to dress for the Seahawks game and boldly said he’d learned nothing from his time on the bench
Between him and Diontae, must’ve been one helluva upbeat locker room
I agree with you and I’ll point to Najee as an example. On two occasions I can remember, he was quoted as saying two team-oriented things: one, that he was tired of losing and that the offense was stagnant and two—later echoed by Minkah—that he had come from a program (Alabama) that was highly structured and held lofty expectations
For that, guys like the PG’s Zeise recently wondered ‘if the guy wants to be here.’
Better these guys just say nothing than have a hack put his own spin on something
If this is true, I see it as a positive. An indication he’s not soft. IE doesn’t mind getting hit.
maybe could be the next Taysom Hill
Both Hill and C Patterson have made long careers out of playing different roles. Good for them and I hope Justin sees and appreciates opportunities.
I have to assume Fields would be much more open to position changes and different opportunities if that’s what he needed to do to stay in the league. But even if he doesn’t play a single snap this year he’s still going to get above average backup qb money from some team in free agency next offseason. So there’s no incentive for him to chase a #3/4WR and returner roster spot.
As a Broncos fan who watch 3-4 Bears games last year, they should try him out at QB first. He’s probably better than Russ.
Fields is more scary with the ball in the open field than he is behind center
I don’t think the idea is any crazier than the Bears using Butkus as a kick returner…which they did a dozen times!
If Russel Wilson is as good as he can be, the Steelers can continue to sneak into the playoffs and lose for a few more years.
If Justin Fields is as good as he could potentially be, the Steelers have their QB for the next decade.
So, obviously…
After 3 seasons how good can Fields potentially be? Pittsburgh should’ve learned their lesson with Mitch Trubisky.