The favored perception surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers is that Russell Wilson would be the crew’s beginning quarterback for the 2024 season. Barring one thing unexpected, it might be a shock if Wilson weren’t underneath middle in Week 1.
Assuming that is the case, it poses the following massive query: what occurs to the high-upside 25-year-old backup in Justin Fields? Whereas Fields was anticipated to be traded by the Chicago Bears this offseason following the crew’s curiosity in No. 1 total choose Caleb Williams, Pittsburgh buying him by way of commerce was barely shocking after including Wilson.
However the Steelers are apparently able to “get slightly bizarre” with how they use Fields, as ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler detailed Sunday on SportsCenter.
“I’ve talked to a number of groups now who count on the Pittsburgh Steelers to get slightly bizarre on the objective line with Justin Fields, possibly have a package deal or two for him able to go the place he could be a runner or a thrower out of the shotgun,” Fowler mentioned, in line with Bleacher Report’s Scott Polacek.
It is an attention-grabbing idea and never one which’s all that shocking contemplating Fields’ upside as a runner. Fowler additionally identified that new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith used Derrick Henry in that style whereas with the Tennessee Titans.
“Bear in mind, offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, when he was with the Tennessee Titans, used Derrick Henry in that manner as a runner and thrower out of the shotgun,” Fowler mentioned, per Polacek. “So, Fields along with his quarterback background can actually deal with that.”
Fields performed in 13 video games final season for the Bears and put collectively a stable season total, throwing for two,562 yards with 16 landing passes and 9 interceptions. However from a operating standpoint, he is had success in all three years within the NFL, along with his finest season coming in 2022 when he rushed for 1,143 yards and eight touchdowns.
Over 40 profession NFL video games, Fields has amassed 2,220 dashing yards and 14 touchdowns.
