Justin Fields embraces new role on scout team helping Steelers prepare for uber-athletic QBs

Brian Batko, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Nov 8, 2024

Published in Football

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PITTSBURGH — For the time being at least, Justin Fields is out of the backdrop business.

In the Steelers locker room, the players who command the most media attention on a week-to-week basis do their interviews in front of a logo-patterned screen with cameras and microphones making a semicircle around them. Friday afternoon, Fields was in the chair at his stall, winding down from a practice spent emulating Jayden Daniels to give the Steelers defense the best preparation possible for the 7-2 Commanders this Sunday.

“That’s my job,” Fields said, unprompted. “That’s my role on this team.”

It was impressively matter-of-fact for someone who hasn’t had this job or this role on a team for an extended period since early in his college career. But with Russell Wilson taking the reins as the starting quarterback, Fields has shifted into the background with a 4-2 record and 5:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio to his name.

Fields has kept a low profile since the week leading up to the Jets game when coach Mike Tomlin played coy about who would get the nod under center. Obviously, Fields was told Tomlin was going in a different direction, but it doesn’t sound like there was some drawn-out sit-down between the two to reset expectations.

“It’s understood,” Fields said. “A conversation doesn’t need to be had. We’re all grown men.”

Perhaps Fields will be involved in the offense in some fashion down the road, but for now, he’s a backup.

T.J. Watt said he did an “unbelievable job” this week giving the Steelers defense a Daniels-like mobile quarterback to work against.

Kyle Allen is the usual scout team passer as the No. 3 quarterback, but Fields provides a more realistic stand-in for the elusive second overall pick. According to cornerback Donte Jackson, Fields has been diligently asking the defense questions about how Daniels does certain things, studying his game and making sure he’s accurate in his reps.

“It helps a lot. Not every team gets to simulate that type of style at practice,” Jackson said. “You can't take it for granted when you have a guy like that. Justin’s been outstanding. He’s been the utmost professional from that standpoint.”

With Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts on the schedule in the second half of the season, Fields can continue to put his athleticism to use on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. As for Sundays, he’s ready for any sort of package that could include him.

Fields already makes it a habit to stay loose during games, so he wouldn’t exactly be coming in cold off the bench should that scenario arise. He also feels close to 100% from the hamstring injury that made him inactive for the Giants game. His MRI revealed a Grade 2 strain that he had to manage during the off week.

Much like the news cycle from the spring, when fans wondered if Fields would be returning kicks for the Steelers in 2024, Fields laughed off any outside speculation that he was held out of the Giants game because he could be a target for other teams at the trade deadline. That day has come and gone, and he remains the Steelers’ backup, one who already showed what he can do as the starter.

“It’s just so hilarious,” Fields said. “People swear they know everything that’s going on or what’s behind what ‘Coach T’ is thinking and stuff like that. It was a real [injury]. I could run a little bit, but we didn't want to risk me going in with those packages against the Giants and hurting it again or making it worse.”

While Fields is back in full for the Commanders game after practicing all week, the Steelers still won’t have No. 3 outside linebacker Nick Herbig or reserve safety and special teamer Terrell Edmunds. Herbig was limited Wednesday and Thursday, then didn’t practice at all Friday because of a hamstring injury from the Cowboys game, while Edmunds was held out of practice all week due to an illness.

Edmunds being out means there’s an even stronger chance that versatile defensive back Cam Sutton will have some sort of role in his season debut — the dime sub-package, most likely — after his eight-game suspension. Also set to return to the lineup are starting center Zach Frazier and No. 3 running back and kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson, both of whom missed multiple games with ankle injuries.

The Steelers are listing receiver Ben Skowronek (shoulder) and inside linebacker Tyler Matakevich (hamstring) as questionable. They practiced in full all week and are core contributors on special teams but would need to be activated from injured reserve to the 53-man roster by Saturday afternoon.

For the Commanders, newly acquired cornerback Marshon Lattimore won’t make his Washington debut yet as he deals with a hamstring injury. They also signed kicker Zane Gonzalez to the practice squad because starter Austin Seibert’s right hip has been an issue.