The Pittsburgh Steelers barely allowed the football world time to mentally process their signing of Russell Wilson before pulling off another shocker and making a trade for Bears quarterback Justin Fields.
In what seemed like the blink of an eye, last year’s revolving trio of starters—Kenny Pickett, Mitchell Trubisky, and Mason Rudolph—were all out the door. As of this writing, the only quarterbacks on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ roster are Wilson and Fields, two players with very different resumes.
While there will be some competition in camp, and Pittsburgh will need to bring in a few more quarterbacks to find their number three, the likely scenario is that Wilson will be the starter and Fields the backup. Justin Fields will have the chance to learn behind a veteran quarterback, a benefit he hasn’t really seen so far in his young career.
But that doesn’t mean Fields has to waste a season holding a clipboard on the sidelines. He’s a talented athlete, and it would be smart for the Pittsburgh Steelers to get him on the field, even if he isn’t the starting quarterback.
Justin Fields ran for 2,220 yards during his three seasons with the Bears, which includes a 1,143-yard performance in 2022. A quarterback with the ability to run the ball, or who can make something out of nothing when a play goes bad, is the kind of thing that keeps a defensive coordinator up at night. This is a part of Russell Wilson’s game that has regressed a bit in recent years, and understandably so.
Here are a few ways the Pittsburgh Steelers might take advantage of Justin Fields’ special set of skills.
1. A Change of Pace
The most straightforward thing the Steelers could do is bring in Fields for a few series per game. Trotting Fields out to run the main offense now and then gives him some much-needed reps in live-game situations.
Just as importantly, it gives the opposing defense one more thing to worry about. Defenses only have so much time during the week, and every minute they spend worrying about Fields is a minute they aren’t preparing for Wilson.
2. Special Packages
Fields could run the main offense whenever he comes into the game, but the Steelers might also put together offensive packages specifically meant for him. This could be something similar to how New Orleans handles Taysom Hill.
Hopefully, whatever the Steelers’ offensive brain-trust draws up has a chance of working. But even if it doesn’t, getting these plays and formations on film adds one more problem that defensive coordinators can’t ignore.
3. Dual Quarterback Sets
Both Fields and Wilson in the huddle at the same time would present some interesting challenges for opposing defenses. That might mean something as mundane as Fields taking a direct snap for wildcat-type plays. Or, the Steelers might get crazy with it and line Fields up as a halfback, wide receiver or tight end.
Kordell Stewart eventually became one of the top Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks of all time, but he spent his rookie year in 1995 playing wide receiver, running back, and only occasionally quarterback. Defenses had to be on their toes when No. 10 came on the field, and this wrinkle in the Steelers’ offense helped propel them to the Super Bowl.
Justin Fields and Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback Situation
Russell Wilson is on a one-year deal in Pittsburgh for the 2024 season. After that, it is anyone’s guess what happens. The Steelers have a slightly more complicated situation with Fields, with more money on the table and a pricey fifth-year option looming.
Either of these guys could be the solution at quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers for the next five seasons. Or neither of them. The Steelers are going to have to figure that out, and that means getting a good look at what they each can do.
If Wilson is the starter, that doesn’t mean Fields has to sit for a season. There should be plenty of ways to get him out there on game day.
Statistical Reference
Justin Fields | Pro Football Reference
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