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Justin Fields

Justin Fields Could Remain Steelers’ QB1 Regardless Of Russell Wilson’s Health?

September 15th, 2024 at 10:43am CST by Rory Parks

Earlier this week, we heard that the Steelers were likely to start Justin Fields at quarterback in today’s Week 2 matchup against the Broncos as Russell Wilson continues to work his way back from a calf ailment. We also heard that Wilson, who was named the starting QB at the end of August before aggravating the calf injury, was likely to reclaim the QB1 post when healthy enough to do so.

This morning, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com confirmed that Fields would get the nod today. However, Rapoport also added that if the former first-round pick of the Bears leads Pittsburgh to a victory, head coach Mike Tomlin may opt to keep the younger passer at the top of the depth chart, regardless of Wilson’s health status.

In Rapoport’s estimation, such a decision would not amount to a Wilson benching per se, but rather a case of riding the hot hand (although Wilson might not see it that way). In the Steelers’ Week 1 victory over the Falcons, Fields did not lead the team to a touchdown, but six field goals and a strong defensive performance were enough to carry the day.

Fields was highly efficient in the Atlanta contest, though he was also quite conservative, completing 17 of 23 passes for 156 yards. He also showed off his running ability, adding 57 yards on the ground on 14 carries.

Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith praised Fields’ measured approach. Smith said of Fields, “he was very disciplined. He wasn’t greedy. When the shots were there, we took advantage of them.”

Fields’ prowess as a runner has never been in doubt. Instead, the fact that he never blossomed into a high-end passer is what ultimately led to his trade out of Chicago this offseason, with the Bears taking advantage of the No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft to nab blue chip prospect Caleb Williams. Wilson, on the other hand, has a long history of being a highly-effective passer, even if his last two seasons as a member of the Broncos did not live up to expectations.

As Rapoport observes, Tomlin continued to deploy Mason Rudolph under center in 2023 even after Kenny Pickett was cleared to play, showing that the league’s longest-tenured head coach is not afraid to deviate from his original plans if the situation calls for it. Should Fields deliver another “game manager” performance in Week 2, even if that performance results in a win, Tomlin may still prefer to see what Wilson can do. But if Fields should shine, then the decision could be more complicated.

Steelers Promote WR Ben Skowronek

September 14th, 2024 at 9:19am CST by Ben Levine

Ben Skowronek has once again earned a promotion to the Steelers active roster. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Steelers have called up the wideout from the practice squad.

The former seventh-round pick was traded to the Texans this past offseason but was among Houston’s final cuts. He subsequently landed on Pittsburgh’s practice squad and earned a promotion for Week 1, with all 11 of his snaps coming on special teams.

Skowronek showed some flashes during his time with the Rams, including a 2022 campaign where he hauled in 39 receptions for 376 yards. Third-round rookie Roman Wilson was limited at practice this week while dealing with an ankle injury, so Skowronek provides Pittsburgh with some reinforcement on the depth chart.

Speaking of injuries, quarterback Russell Wilson has officially been listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Broncos. The veteran reportedly made the trip to Colorado with the intent to play his former team (per Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com). Of course, Wilson also traveled to Atlanta for Week 1 before eventually being listed as out, so we shouldn’t read too much into this decision.

If Wilson can’t go, Justin Fields would earn another start with his new squad. There was uncertainty atop the depth chart heading into the season opener, but Fields had the luxury of taking all of the first-team reps this past week. The speedy QB admitted that the extra practice time should help his performance if he does indeed start tomorrow.

“I guess it helps me a little bit,” said Fields (via the team’s website). “But like I said last week, I come into every week the same with the same approach that I’m going to play. I’d rather be ready and just have that mindset.

“So, I guess it helps a little bit. But it’s really the same process for me.”

Justin Fields Expected To Start In Week 2; Russell Wilson Positioned As Steelers’ Starter When Healthy

September 12th, 2024 at 10:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Steelers played it safe with Russell Wilson‘s calf injury in Week 1, turning the offense over to Justin Fields at quarterback. The latter is in line to start once again, although he has ground to make up in terms of moving to the top of the depth chart.

ESPN’s Dan Graziano reports Fields is expected to get the start for Pittsburgh’s Week 2 matchup against the Broncos. That comes as no surprise given head coach Mike Tomlin‘s remarks from earlier in the week. Tomlin confirmed the team is proceeding with the expectation Fields will again get the nod as Wilson attempts to ramp up his participation in practice.

Fields – acquired via trade from the Bears in the offseason shortly after Wilson was signed – did not have an impactful statistical showing in Pittsburgh’s win over the Falcons to begin the campaign. The 25-year-old totaled only 156 passing yards, but he added 57 rushing yards and did not commit any turnovers. Six field goals were sufficient for the Steelers to win on Sunday, but team and player will be hoping for a better showing on Fields’ part if he plays again against the Broncos.

Wilson’s recovery after aggravating the calf injury which cost him training camp time will still be worth watching closely, however. The nine-time Pro Bowler was tapped as Pittsburgh’s starter after an offseason in which neither passer stood out against the other. As Graziano’s colleague Jeremy Fowler adds, Wilson is still likely to assume QB1 duties once he returns to full health. That also matches what Tomlin said earlier this week when addressing the quarterback situation.

As pending free agents, both Wilson and Fields are in a unique situation for 2024. The Steelers completely rebuilt their QB room during the spring while moving on from 2022 first-rounder Kenny Pickett. Wilson’s command of the offense, Fowler notes, is one of the factors which has given him an edge to date as the projected starter. Fields gained support during training camp and the preseason, however, so he could gain further momentum with a strong showing against Denver provided Wilson remains sidelined.

Practice over the coming days will no doubt offer more clarity on how Pittsburgh will proceed under center against the Broncos, and it would be surprising if the team attempted to rush Wilson back into action in short order. The 35-year-old should still be expected to take the field at some point relatively soon, though.

Steelers Preparing For Justin Fields To Start In Week 2

September 10th, 2024 at 1:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

Russell Wilson won the Steelers’ starting job after the preseason, but his return trip to Denver may feature street clothes or another full uniform and no game action.

Mike Tomlin is preparing for Justin Fields to start against the Broncos, The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo notes. The 18th-year Steelers HC said Wilson, who aggravated his training camp calf injury last week, does not have a chance to practice fully until at least Thursday, per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac. Wilson is set to be limited Wednesday, which does keep the door open to a return.

Wilson is feeling better, Tomlin added, but the Steelers — having seen the free agent signing’s calf problem recur — are again leaning toward exercising caution. Wilson still suited up for Pittsburgh’s opener in Atlanta, and given his recent past, he will undoubtedly push to play in Week 2. The Broncos released Wilson after two years, doing so after demoting him — due largely to an injury guarantee in his contract — in Week 17.

Although no Steelers touchdowns occurred in their 18-10 win over the Falcons, Fields completed 17 of 23 passes for 156 yards while rushing for 57. Fields closed the gap on Wilson, despite frequent pole position-related classifications of the Steelers’ QB race this offseason, after the latter’s injury during training camp and would stand to help his case to be Pittsburgh’s full-time starter by playing well in Week 2.

The trade acquisition has not usurped Wilson just yet, Tomlin added (via ESPN.com’s Brooke Pryor), though SI.com’s Albert Breer indicates plenty in the building are excited to see how Fields builds on his first start. This comes after a report that pointed to Fields having significant support in the QB battle from sources at the Steelers’ facility.

More Fields reps may well hurt Wilson’s cause, and although rumors about the Steelers being interested in post-2024 partnerships with both passers, this will probably be the only season Wilson and Fields are teammates. The Broncos benched Wilson largely due to contract concerns; he has never been parked strictly for performance issues. Wilson, 35, had never missed a game until 2021; a finger injury sidelined him then. In 2022, however, Wilson gave way to Brett Rypien twice — because of a hamstring injury and a concussion.

The Broncos moved on via their Bo Nix draft choice at No. 12 overall. Wilson still counts a record-smashing $53MM in dead money on Denver’s payroll, with more than $30MM in Wilson funds — from a post-June 1 cut — to be on the Broncos’ 2025 cap sheet.

Justin Fields To Start Week 1 For Steelers

September 8th, 2024 at 10:49am CST by Rory Parks

Although Russell Wilson was named the Steelers’ starting quarterback at the end of August, it will be Justin Fields under center for the club’s Week 1 contest against the Falcons today. NFL insider Jordan Schultz was first to report that Wilson’s calf strain would keep him on the sidelines and would open the door for Fields to start.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter had previously noted that Wilson told the team he could play, but team doctors were more cautious than the accomplished signal-caller. ESPN’s Brooke Pryor suggested that the state of Pittsburgh’s offensive line might have also factored into the decision, as the unit struggled in the preseason and is dealing with the absence of LG Isaac Seumalo. Wilson’s mobility is limited by his calf injury, and combined with a questionable offensive front, that could have posed a major concern.

Wilson has been battling a balky calf since the start of training camp, which allowed Fields to get plenty of work with the first team during the summer. Fields gained support in the organization with his performance in practice and the preseason, and he closed the gap on his veteran competition, who was long said to be in “pole position” for the starting gig. Ultimately, head coach Mike Tomlin elected to go with Wilson’s more experienced hand, though Fields will now have a chance to seize the job.

Of course, Fields’ performance today and Wilson’s health status will go a long way towards determing their immediate futures. And, since both players are on low-cost deals that expire at season’s end, and since the team is not deviating from its policy of not negotiating extensions in-season, their long-term earning power also hangs in the balance. Fields, 25, is 10 years younger than Wilson and has a longtime fan in Tomlin, and after he failed to develop into the franchise quarterback the Bears envisioned when they made him the No. 11 overall pick of the 2021 draft, he has a second bite at the apple in Pittsburgh.

Wilson is the emergency third QB for the Atlanta contest, meaning he can only enter the game if Fields and backup Kyle Allen sustain injuries.

Steelers Name Russell Wilson QB Starter

August 28th, 2024 at 11:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

Russell Wilson faced a challenge from his pole-position spot, but the veteran will hold off Justin Fields. The Steelers will go with the 13th-year passer to open the season, Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer reports. The Steelers have since announced it will be Wilson in Week 1.

The Steelers went to some lengths to assure Wilson he would be the starter. This was communicated to the decorated veteran before the Kenny Pickett trade and then after the team acquired Fields. While the latter has made a push that indicates this situation is not resolved from a long-term perspective, Fields will begin his Pittsburgh tenure as a backup.

Fields was believed to have supporters in the building, as the Steelers went about adjusting his footwork from his Bears days. Rather than name a starter before the third preseason game, Mike Tomlin waited until midway through the Steelers’ final week of summer workouts. This does not suggest Wilson will have a firm grip here, despite the early-offseason buzz about this job, but the 35-year-old passer will soon make his 189th career start.

Despite Fields closing the gap, the 25-year-old trade acquisition never emerged as a frontrunner. The Steelers may have been more inclined, after seeing Pickett stumble, to go with a more experienced option early. After trading Pickett, Pittsburgh signed off on a unique arrangement. Wilson and Fields are on low-cost deals that expire at season’s end. The team is not deviating from its policy of not negotiating extensions in-season, and no talks are planned to commence before the campaign. Both passers will head into contract years, and although reports about the Steelers eyeing a post-2024 future with both have come out, this Wilson-Fields setup will almost certainly be a one-and-done situation.

Calling this a “difficult decision,” Tomlin communicated it to both QBs today. This was Wilson’s first time in a quarterback competition since his rookie year, when he beat out Matt Flynn for the Seahawks’ job. The potential Hall of Famer held it for 10 years, but the Seahawks — after Wilson’s first injury-related absence came during a season that brought a step back from his Pro Bowl-level form — dealt his $35MM-per-year contract to the Broncos for an eight-asset package in March 2022. Wilson then signed a $49MM-AAV deal with Denver, going through an infamous tenure with the AFC West franchise.

Wilson’s Broncos run can be classified as a financial disaster, and while Sean Payton made it clear his fit with the off-script maven was poor, the 2023 season went much better for the former third-round pick compared to the shocking 2022 outcome.

Wilson rebounded from his rough season with Nathaniel Hackett, a campaign in which the Broncos allowed the QB to help design the offense and then gave him other perks, by throwing 26 touchdown passes compared to just eight interceptions with Payton at the controls. This still produced a late-season benching — after a behind-the-scenes drama unfolded regarding Wilson’s 2025 guarantee vesting date — but Wilson did show some better form, helping the Broncos to a five-game win streak that moved them into the playoff chase.

Denver took on a record-smashing dead money sum to separate from the embattled quarterback; regardless of offset language, Denver’s cap penalty over the next two years more than doubles any other single-player number. The Steelers swooped in an have the accomplished passer on a one-year, $1.21MM deal. But Wilson, who battled injuries in 2022 to contribute to his stunning regression, missed multiple weeks of training camp with a calf injury and only recently received full clearance. This allowed Fields to catch up a bit, and this situation will be one to monitor early in the season.

In the preseason, Fields went 19-for-27 for 199 yards. Playing in two preseason games, Wilson was 10 of 12 for 73 yards. Both struggled to move the offense in Pittsburgh’s second preseason game, but Wilson led a TD drive in the team’s finale. Fields did not lead any scoring drives against Detroit this past weekend. Fields probably offers more upside at this point, as Wilson will turn 36 in November, but the veteran brings a higher floor.

The Steelers will aim to pair Wilson with a veteran-laden defense, and it remains to be seen if the team will pry Brandon Aiyuk from the 49ers. Though, that scenario appears a longshot right now.

Justin Fields Has ‘Real Support’ In Steelers Building

August 26th, 2024 at 2:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

Breaking from the norm, two quarterback situations remain unsettled following the preseason schedule. The Patriots are considering moving Drake Maye into their lineup early, while the Steelers are determining if Justin Fields has passed Russell Wilson. It certainly appears the younger Pittsburgh passer has made this a difficult decision.

The Steelers are taking more time before announcing their starter, with Mike Tomlin going so far as to say this week of practice will play a potentially deciding role in who lands the job. Wilson’s rocky Broncos tenure made the team’s proclamations about him being the clear frontrunner a bit odd, and Fields indeed has closed the gap.

Wilson is still viewed as the more likely Week 1 starter, but Fields lurks — to the point it would be easy to see the younger passer usurping the veteran early in the season. The 2021 first-round pick has real support in the building, according to SI.com’s Albert Breer. The Steelers acquired Fields for just a conditional sixth-round pick — a return much lower than initially expected — and while they are not planning to negotiate with either quarterback until season’s end, rumors about the team circling back about a post-2024 future with the 25-year-old arm surfaced this offseason.

Of course, immediate reports out of Pittsburgh both said Fields would not seriously challenge Wilson and that the team was interested in a post-2024 partnership with the former Super Bowl winner as well. Wilson has since missed time with a calf injury. The 13th-year veteran is full-go now, but he has not created enough distance from Fields to be considered safe just yet. This trajectory would stand to give Wilson a short leash should he end up winning the job.

Viewing Fields as having lost confidence from his inconsistent Bears tenure, the Steelers changed his footwork this offseason. The Arthur Smith-led effort shifted Fields to the dropback mechanics he used at Ohio State, Breer adds. In the preseason, Fields went 19-for-27 for 199 yards. Playing in two preseason games, Wilson was 10 of 12 for 73 yards. Both struggled to move the offense in Pittsburgh’s second preseason game, but Wilson led a TD drive in the team’s finale. Fields did not lead any scoring drives against Detroit this past weekend.

If Wilson holds off Fields, this will still be a situation to monitor and represent new territory for the potential Hall of Famer. Despite Wilson’s inconsistency in Denver, he was never in any real danger of being benched for performance reasons. He certainly will be this year, and Fields holds a decent chance of winning the job from the start. This would put the former Seahawks star’s career at a crossroads, whereas Fields seems to have upped his stock with the organization in recent weeks.

Steelers To Delay Starting QB Decision

August 24th, 2024 at 10:44pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Steelers’ preseason slate is in the books with the team having played on Saturday. Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback spot is still in the air, but no immediate announcement will be made regarding whether Russell Wilson or Justin Fields will start the season atop the depth chart.

Instead, the Steelers will go through their upcoming practices before an official announcement is made at the end of the week. Wilson has been in the lead throughout the offseason, with head coach Mike Tomlin and other Steelers personnel repeating that he has been in pole position ahead of Fields. The latter appears to have moved closer to the QB1 gig this summer, but Tomlin’s post-game press conference did not offer an evaluation of where things stand.

“We’ve got three days of Steelers versus Steelers work and why not do it then?” Tomlin said (via NFL.com). “It kind of minimizes the Steelers versus Steelers work when we start making decisions prior to the completion of that. We’ve got ample time to prepare for [Week 1 against] Atlanta and make whatever decisions or announcements regarding divisional labor or pecking orders and so forth. And so, we will do it at the end of the work week.”

While Wilson has not officially won the job, ESPN’s Brooke Pryor notes it would come as a surprise if the former Super Bowl winner was not tapped for the first-team role. Wilson joined the Steelers on a veteran minimum deal in free agency after being released by the Broncos (the team on the hook for a record-breaking $85MM in dead cap charges stemming from the remaining guarantees on his deal). The 35-year-old’s two-year Denver tenure did not go as planned, and a return to his previous form is not expected based on his limited preseason performances.

Fields’ work during Pittsburgh’s exhibition games, just like Wilson’s, did not include any touchdown passes or interceptions. The former Bears first-rounder – added via trade – offers a much different skillset based on his age (25) and rushing ability (2,220 rushing yards in three years). He and Wilson are both only under contract through the 2024 season, so their respective futures will be directly tied to how the coming season plays out.

New offensive coordinator Arthur Smith recently noted (via Pryor) his input will be taken into account regarding the decision on a starting quarterback. The final call will also include evaluations from Tomlin, general manager Omar Khan and owner Art Rooney II. Regardless of if a winner of the competition is already known, the decision will not be made public for several more days.

Justin Fields Gaining Ground To Start For Steelers

August 21st, 2024 at 10:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

In a quarterback battle for the first time since his rookie training camp, Russell Wilson has already run into limitations due to a calf injury. This gave Justin Fields a chance to receive steady first-string reps. While Pittsburgh’s latest preseason game did not go well on offense, practice work has narrowed this competition.

Neither Fields nor Wilson averaged more than 5.5 yards per attempt against the Bills, the latter’s preseason debut with his new team. Fields was 11-for-17 with 92 yards, while Wilson was 8-for-10 for 47 yards. The younger passer added 42 yards on the ground. The Steelers did not score a touchdown in that game, inviting early concerns for a franchise that has not exactly enjoyed reliable quarterback play since before Ben Roethlisberger‘s 2019 elbow injury.

After Wilson entered camp in pole position, Fields’ car appears to be closer to the veteran’s rearview mirror. The Steelers have naturally been impressed with Fields’ athleticism, to the point Yahoo.com’s Charles Robinson indicates the team views his run-game dynamism as a facet that could help provide cover while he continues to develop as a passer. That produced uneven results for the Bears, though they likely would have retained the 2021 first-rounder had an opportunity to land Caleb Williams not come up. Nevertheless, Robinson adds Fields’ odds of overtaking Wilson have improved since the offseason program.

This follows an early-camp report suggesting Fields was making strides toward the starting job. The Steelers were clear in the offseason Wilson would be the starter, with this information coming out immediately after the Fields trade occurred. This early confidence represented an interesting vote of confidence given what transpired in Denver. Wilson, 35, indeed fared better under Sean Payton compared to Nathaniel Hackett. The ex-Seahawks star cited his multiple 2022 injuries as the lead reason for his stunning regression that year, but he now finds himself battling a much younger player for a job.

Rumors about Pittsburgh exploring another contract for Wilson and/or Fields came up during the offseason, and Robinson adds the Steelers believe their long-term quarterback is indeed on the current roster. Both players’ deals expire after the season, and the Steelers will not adjust their in-season negotiating policy for this unique situation. This season will double as a critical fact-finding mission, as the team just bailed on its would-be Roethlisberger successor by unloading Kenny Pickett in a rather messy breakup.

Team brass appears pleased with the decision to move on from its QBs from last season, with Robinson adding the club is relieved not to observe another Pickett-Mitch Trubisky QB room prepare for a season. Pittsburgh’s initial post-Big Ben plan did not work, and team brass was disappointed by the previous setup’s lack of production downfield and lack of ability as playmakers. Fields, 25, certainly provides important playmaking elements but is a work in progress as a passer. Both he and Wilson have also shown a propensity to take an alarming number of sacks. Wilson took 100 during his Broncos tenure. Fields absorbed 99 in that span, with each tying for the league high (55) in 2022.

Tomlin did not call Payton about Wilson, per ESPN’s Sal Palantonio (h/t Pro Football Talk). The reference probably would not have been glowing, given the end between Denver’s HC and former QB, but the Steelers are taking a chance the potential Hall of Famer still has starter-level ability.

“I did not,” Tomlin said of placing a call to Payton. “It’s my job and our job to determine that. And so I don’t run away from responsibilities. It’s just Steelers conducting Steelers business, man. We information gather. We do our appropriate research, and we make decisions and we don’t look back. We don’t seek comfort from the opinion of others that are non-Steelers, respectfully. That’s just how we go about our business.”

The team will soon make its determination, and the fallout from Fields winning would certainly be more interesting than what would happen if Wilson held off the fourth-year passer.

Justin Fields Closing Gap In Steelers’ QB Competition?

August 4th, 2024 at 8:25am CST by Rory Parks

New Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, echoing head coach Mike Tomlin’s comments throughout the offseason, said back in June that free agent signee Russell Wilson was in pole position to open the 2024 campaign as Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback. Trade acquisition Justin Fields, therefore, would begin the final season of his rookie contract as Wilson’s backup.

Of course, a contestant that begins a race in pole position does not necessarily win the race. Wilson suffered a calf injury during the team’s conditioning test, and the Steelers are slow playing his recovery. That has opened the door for Fields to get more first-team reps than initially expected, and he is reportedly making the most of his opportunity.

As ESPN’s Adam Schefter noted during an appearance on NFL Live at the end of July, Fields has “opened some eyes” with his training camp performance and is making the coaching staff realize how dynamic the offense can be with the former Bear under center (video link). Those comments are similar to those made on the first day of training camp by ESPN colleague Dan Graziano, who noted that while Fields certainly has ground to make up to overtake Wilson for the starting job, the Steelers are “open-minded about his ability to do so” (subscription required).

Like Graziano, Schefter believes Wilson is still leading the race, though it is a much closer competition than it once appeared. Because Pittsburgh has no meaningful financial connection to either player – Wilson is getting paid nearly $38MM by the Broncos but receiving just $1.21MM from the Steelers, while Fields is earning $1.62MM – there is no contractual reason for the Steelers to give the edge to one player over the other. In fact, given that Fields is just 25 and could still become the team’s next long-term passer, it would not be surprising if Tomlin – who has been a fan of the Ohio State product for some time – hopes he will unseat the 35-year-old Wilson.

Even if he privately feels that way, Tomlin is (obviously) not acknowledging it publicly. In yesterday’s appearance on the Up & Adams show with Kay Adams, Tomlin made plain that Wilson is still the favorite to open the season as the QB1, and he used his favorite racing metaphor to make that point.

“I think I’ve been pretty consistent in my position there,” Tomlin said. “I’ve characterized it as pole position for Russell. And the reason I have is certainly they are competing, but I don’t overly concern ourselves with being fair. There’s no such thing as 50/50. And so we just pay respect to the totality of his resume and his experience” (video link).

If Fields does ultimately change Tomlin’s mind, Graziano believes that Wilson could ask the Steelers to release or trade him. Wilson’s contract with Pittsburgh does have a no-trade clause that would afford him some control over the process, though in a scenario in which he fails to beat out Fields for the starting gig after opening the offseason with such a clear head start, he may not have much trade value anyway. 

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