Justin Fields is struggling with the Steelers’ offseason schedule, according to the Pittsburgh beat reporter who originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Justin Fields may have to wait a little longer – and make improvements more quickly – before he can earn a starting job with the Pittsburgh Steelers. According to Steelers beat writer Mark Kaboly, veteran quarterback Russell Wilson shined in the Steelers offseason program while Fields struggled.
“Wilson did nothing through 12 practices that even remotely indicated he might lose the quarterback competition to Justin Fields,” Kaboly wrote for The Athletic. “The work ethic, the experience, the arm talent and the fact that he has essentially taken all the first-team snaps strongly suggest that nothing Wilson can do between July 24 and September 8 will stop him from starting.”
Shortly after the Pittsburgh Steelers made the decision to replace Kenny Pickett with both Wilson and Fields, they made it clear that it would be Wilson who would get the first shot at the starting job. Head coach Mike Tomlin left the door open for Fields to win the job sometime this summer, or even later in the regular season, but it was Wilson’s job first.
“You couldn’t have asked for much more from Wilson during OTAs and minicamps, both on and off the field. His leadership is more than noticeable, and has been that way since the first day he showed up. What stood out was his arm talent, whether it was a throw in the flat, on the goal line or down the field.”
That earned Wilson a spot on Kaboly’s offseason “winners” list. Fields, on the other hand, ended up in the ‘losers’ pile.
“Don’t get bent out of shape with Fields on this list,” Kaboly wrote. “His talent speaks for itself. But unlike Wilson, he has to overcome a lot of obstacles this year to get a chance. Fields didn’t get many reps with the first team, and that’s important in training camp. More than that, you can see what made him a first-round pick…and also what made the Chicago Bears move on. The strength of the arms, the speed and the play with his legs are undeniable. However, he showed inconsistent accuracy and relied too quickly on his feet after the first read. Those kinds of things can be fixed, but maybe not during training camp.
The Bears decided to move on from Fields this year and drafted Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick to take over as the team’s next quarterback. When it became clear that Fields was no longer in the Bears’ plans, the initial expectation was that he could fetch a decent return on the trade market. Something like a second or third round pick in the 2024 draft. However, that strong market never materialized and GM Ryan Poles ultimately got a sixth round pick in 2025 that could turn into a fourth round pick if Fields meets certain playing time thresholds this year.
Poland turned down several other offers for Fields because he wanted to “do the right thing” with Fields. That meant sending Fields somewhere he wanted to go, somewhere he had a chance of winning a job.
One inconsistent offseason schedule won’t ruin Fields’ chances of earning the starting job somewhere down the line. Things change quickly in the NFL, and training camp practices are often more telling than OTAs in May and June. Of course, the injury potential in the sport means Fields is always one play away from taking over the offense.
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