Justin Fields’ first appearance in a Steelers uniform was one fans had been eagerly awaiting. But it didn’t unfold the way anyone imagined. In the preseason game against the Texans, Fields struggled right from the start, fumbling his first two snaps out of the six he received, setting the tone for a frustrating 20-12 loss for Pittsburgh.
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After the game, Coach Mike Tomlin was straightforward in assessing his forward talent.
While he saw some positive lining in Fields’ performance, those early mishaps couldn’t be ignored, which prompted him to talk about the importance of the quarterback-center exchange during the post-game presser:
“I thought he did some nice things, but obviously he was a component of the C-Q exchange, and from my perspective, that’s dual responsibility on the center and the quarterback.”
For Fields, this debut was a tough pill to swallow! The anticipation around his first game as a Steeler was huge, and the mistakes weighed heavily on him.
However, it’s also a learning moment. Preseason games like these have a silver lining. It’s better for these issues to surface now than in the middle of a busy season.
Tomlin’s reaction suggests that while Fields has undeniable talent, the Steelers might lead with someone else at QB1.
Is Russell Wilson a better choice?
Doubts have started to creep in about Fields’ readiness to lead the Steelers this season, which is where Wilson comes in.
Coach Tomlin’s postgame comments hinted at the return of Russell Wilson for the next preseason game against the Bills.
Wilson’s absence due to a calf injury might have given Fields a nod in the starting eleven, but with his recovery going well, the veteran quarterback is still very much in consideration for the starting role.
Fields, meanwhile, has taken responsibility for the mishaps, acknowledging that the fumbled snaps hurt the team’s momentum. However, he also remained positive about his overall performance:
“I feel like I was in a good rhythm, and I think we were moving the ball well. I think just the fumbled snaps, things like that, they can kill a whole drive.”
But the shadow of Wilson’s return looms large. Fields knows he’ll have to step up if he wants to secure the spot as the Steelers’ starting quarterback. Regardless it will be a very interesting few days for the Steelers’ quarterbacks.
