The Pittsburgh Steelers struggled once again in their second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday night. The defense looked good at times, but had some trouble stopping the run, and it was difficult to find anything good about the offense. Zach Frazier was a bright spot, but the rest of the line struggled to protect the quarterbacks. Russell Wilson had some issues while Justin Fields provided some exciting moments while using his legs.
There are a lot of fans that have been clamoring for Fields to become the starting quarterback. He adds another element to the offense with his athleticism that Wilson just doesn't have at his age. During quarterback battles, there are always debates amongst the fan base about which player is better, and the Steelers in 2024 are no exception.
Fields overthrew TJ Luther in the end zone on Saturday night, and the clip has been going semi-viral with people arguing which player is at fault. Hall Of Famer Cris Carter took to X to clear the air and defend Fields.
It did look like Luther slowed down towards the end of his route before leaping into the air. Had he ran his route properly, there is a good chance this could have been a completion. Luther is in his second season and spent the 2023 season split between two practice squads. He has never suited up for an NFL game, so it's hard to imagine he ran his route perfectly. Maybe Fields could have thrown a better ball as well, but it is being painted as a horrific play from Fields, which isn't the case.
It's important to note that there might be a little bit of bias from Carter when it comes to judging Fields. Both of them hail from Ohio State, which could muddy Carter's vision when trying to evaluate the play of his alma mater's former quarterback. Other than the errant throw that may not have been his fault, Fields showcased his athleticism in some areas which got the fan base excited.
Fields played a fairly sloppy game, but showed some flashes. The concerning part is that is probably how one would sum up his entire NFL career. He had at least two would-have-been interceptions that were dropped and also took a sack. He looked better in the pocket than he did in Pittsburgh's first preseason game, but it's hard to say if he improved in any other areas.
The fourth-year quarterback played the entire second half on Saturday, and completed 11 passes for 92 yards. He also added 42 yards on the ground. While Fields' struggles were obvious, it needs to be said that he wasn't playing with the starting lineup. He was throwing to receivers on the bottom of the depth chart, which he hasn't gotten to play with much in practice due to Wilson's calf injury at the start of camp.
Steelers Didn't Get Any Closer To Naming A Starter On Saturday Night
The quarterback competition in Pittsburgh will continue into the last preseason game. Wilson is listed as the starter, but Head Coach Mike Tomlin has made it clear that the quarterbacks are competing. Wilson did not play great on Saturday, as he almost looked uncomfortable. The coaching staff can probably feel more comfortable in Wilson keeping the ball out of harms way, but he didn't do much to impress in his debut.
When Fields took over the starting duties for Wilson while the 35-year-old was nursing his calf injury, he closed the gap in the competition a decent amount. He has impressed in practice mightily, but it is crucial he finds a way to translate that into games where it matters. Fields is running out of opportunities to rip the starting job out of Wilson's hands.
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