The Pittsburgh Steelers have been stirring up inadvertent, but wild speculations ever since they overhauled their quarterback room. After bringing both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields on board, the question became how the team will use the young speedster Fields if Wilson does actually start for the team.
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Quarterback Russell Wilson during a game with the Denver Broncos.
Head Coach Mike Tomlin has said that Wilson will have "pole position" going into the season, but Fields will have an opportunity to compete. While many fans want to see Fields used in Taysom Hill-type gadget plays, most Steelers media feel that the likelihood of that happening is slim.
Then Steelers running back Jaylen Warren created quite a stir during the 2024 NFL Draft festivities when he appeared on teammate Cameron Heyward's podcast, Not Just Football With Cam Heyward, and said there has been talk about Fields returning kicks this year. Like all good rumors, it had just enough validity to make it seem plausible. While speculation went wild, it was even said that the idea might come from higher up the organizational ladder.
Ultimately, the rumors were mostly squashed, but now that players are reporting for Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Fields was asked about it himself. According to Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Fields said that while it wasn't false, the whole thing got blown out of proportion.
"Nah, I think everybody kind of interpreted it wrong. Coach Danny [Smith] was basically just trying to send a message that no matter who you are, you could be on special teams. He just used that as an example. It's funny how serious social media takes everything," said Fields. "It was kind of funny to me when everybody was making a big deal about it for no reason."
He seemed to find the whole thing rather amusing. Fields ran a 4.44 in the 40-yard dash during his Pro Day in 2021. He shared that he hasn't returned kicks since middle school.
Fields said he is here to play quarterback and is focusing his energy on learning new Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith's offensive playbook. The hope surely is to redeem himself after three disappointing seasons for the Chicago Bears after being drafted 11th overall in 2021.
Special Teams Coordinator Danny Smith is an old-school kind of coach, known for being a straight shooter and for masterminding some wild plays. Despite Fields being here to hopefully take over under center and become the Steelers quarterback of the future, he will never say never.
"Hey, you never know. He might cook something up. We'll see what happens," said Fields with a grin.
Fields will have to look for every opportunity to make a positive impression on the coaching staff. However, while he is running toward competition against a much older player, his chances of making those impressions will be limited.
Steelers Players Walking On Eggshells
The Steelers haven't had many quarterback competitions over the past two decades. They had a steady, reliable leader, with Ben Roethlisberger at the helm for 18 seasons. After his retirement, they drafted Kenny Pickett and signed journeyman Mitch Trubisky, giving them one year of competition. During 2023, Pickett was the de facto starter after finishing out his rookie season.
Competition can be good for a team. It pushes players to fight and work harder. However, quarterback controversy can be a bit toxic. Batko recently said that is what he has been trying to figure out with the Steelers. How are the official players handling it?
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Pittsburgh Steelers 2023 quarterbacks, Mitch Trubisky (left) and Kenny Pickett (right).
According to him, many are walking on eggshells. Both quarterbacks have impressive skills and accomplishments, but they are at two different points in their careers, and the returning players aren't sure how to act or what to say. No one wants to make a mistake and say the wrong thing about the wrong guy.
