Mike Chiari @@mikechiari Featured Columnist IV August 10, 2024
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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was critical of quarterback Justin Fields’ role in two fumbled snaps during the team’s 20-12 preseason loss to the Houston Texans on Friday.
According to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, Tomlin suggested that much of the success Fields had was canceled out by the miscues, saying: “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. It negated a lot of good things going on in those first couple of drives.”
Fields, who got the start with Russell Wilson out due to a calf injury, fumbled a snap on each of his first two drives. The offense recovered both times, but they had to punt shortly thereafter.
Aside from the fumbles, Fields went 5-of-6 for 67 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions, and he was sacked twice.
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Following the game, Fields showed quality leadership by taking the blame for the exchange issues, saying:
“We were just shooting ourselves in the foot. Fumbled snap, I think all three phases, so we can definitely be better in that part.
“And I think the snapping part, we just got to be on the same page. I’ll put that on me to just be on the same page and know who’s in that center or know how to adjust and what I need to do.”
However, center Nate Herbig absolved his quarterback of any blame, saying it was “100 percent” his own fault.
The 25-year-old Fields was originally the No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears, but they traded him this offseason when they had the chance to take USC quarterback Caleb Williams first overall.
Pittsburgh completely reshaped its quarterback room by releasing Mitchell Trubisky, trading Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles and letting Mason Rudolph leave in free agency, while acquiring Fields and signing Wilson.
Fields has yet to prove himself as a great passer over the course of an entire NFL season, but he showed some flashes for the Bears in 2023, completing 61.4 percent of his passes for 2,562 yards, 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions, while also rushing for 657 yards and four scores in 13 games.
The expectation is that Fields will be the backup at the start of the 2024 season behind the nine-time Pro Bowler, one-time Super Bowl champion and potential future Hall of Famer in Wilson, but Wilson’s absence Friday left the door open.
Fields didn’t do anything near enough to knock Wilson from his perch as the starter, although both players figure to get a chance to show what they can do next week against the Buffalo Bills.
Tomlin said he expects Wilson to be available to play in Pittsburgh’s next preseason game, so it will be interesting to see if the spirit of competition brings the best out of both him and Fields.
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