The Pittsburgh Steelers already had Russell Wilson on their roster when they traded a conditional sixth-round pick to the Chicago Bears for quarterback Justin Fields. Fields is expected to be Wilson’s backup in the upcoming season, but he could play a major role for the Steelers.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a talented runner as QB2
There’s no reason to let Fields skills stay on the sideline. While he struggled as a passer, Fields was known around the league for making spectacular plays with his legs. He amassed 2,220 rushing yards in the 40 games he played during his first three years in the league. The Steelers need to get the ball in his hands when they can.
The Steelers could use Justin Fields as a kick returner
According to Not Just Football, running back Jaylen Warren said Steelers special teams coach Danny Smith is exploring a new potential role for Fields. He’s thinking of having Fields return kicks for the Steelers following the NFL’s change to the kickoff rules.
#Steelers RB Jaylen Warren says their special teams coordinator discussed the possibility of having Justin Fields return kicks under the new kickoff rules.
(via @NotJustFootball)pic.twitter.com/N4WGMwETxV
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 2, 2024
Fields and Cordarrelle Patterson would be scary
The new rule favors the likelihood of kicks being returned. Having an elite runner like Fields could make the Steelers’ special teams dangerous. The Steelers signed Cordarrelle Patterson this offseason, so he and Fields could be an insane combo for opponents to cover.
The Steelers only owe the Bears a 2025 fourth-round pick if Fields plays in 51 percent of the team’s offensive snaps. So, using Fields as a kick returner wouldn’t change the value of the trade. The Steelers might have found a way to increase their scoring chances by trading for a quarterback who is better as a returner.
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