Steelers get best and worst of Justin Fields at training camp -- and that's fine with them

The qualities that made Justin Fields the No. 11 overall draft pick in 2021 have been evident during the first 10 days of Pittsburgh Steelers training camp at Saint Vincent.

The 25-year-old quarterback has dazzled with long runs after breaking containment in the pocket. He has made some laser-sharp throws to receivers deep down the sidelines and across the middle.

On the flip side, the qualities that made Fields expendable after three seasons with the Chicago Bears also have cropped up.

Fields has been guilty of holding onto the ball too long and taking what would be ruled sacks if it was a game situation. He also has been prone to overthrowing or underthrowing receivers in the end zone and open field.

The best and worst of Fields has been on display while presumptive starter Russell Wilson has been limited because of a calf injury that he sustained during a conditioning test on the eve of the first camp practice.

New offensive coordinator Arthur Smith chooses to focus on the positives and points out that Fields would be more of an unknown quantity to the Steelers had Wilson taken regular snaps at training camp.

“It’s unfortunate anytime anybody gets injured in this league, but it becomes an opportunity for a player,” Smith said. “I think Justin has done a fantastic job, and we’re getting to know him.”

Smith also isn’t surprised that Fields has struggled at times considering the quarterback is learning an offense under a new coordinator for the third time in four NFL seasons. Fields had Bill Lazor as his offensive coordinator in his rookie season, then Munhall native Luke Getsy for the 2022-23 seasons before the Steelers acquired him in the offseason.

“Everybody has different terminology,” Smith said. “And then there are things you harp on and things he wanted from a self-improvement (standpoint), so we’re working all through that. But I’ve seen him. He’s really operating the offense well. There are lot of things that he can play to his strengths, and that is exciting.”

Based on his work in offseason practices, Fields arrived at training camp expecting to get his snaps with the second-team offensive line. But Wilson’s setback thrust Fields into the type of workload he received in Chicago for much of the past three seasons when he started 38 games. He is certain to get the start Friday when the Steelers play their preseason opener against Houston.

“I’m glad I can get these reps now and not have them be in the first game,” Fields said about working with the first-team offense. “It’s been good getting guys to hear my voice in the huddle and hearing me talk to them.”

Fields provides a dual-threat option at quarterback the Steelers have lacked since Kordell Stewart was running the huddle following his “Slash” days. He rushed for 1,143 yards and scored eight rushing touchdowns for the Bears in 2022. Smith has allowed Fields to flash his speed on the perimeter in practice whether it is on designed runs or broken plays.

“It’s fun being able to show off the legs a little bit,” Fields said.

He also has left some of his teammates in awe.

“I took a bad angle on him on a read-option play, and he got outside me for a touchdown,” outside linebacker Alex Highsmith said. “He’s a guy who is unique in his talents, and he’s going to be a huge asset for us.”

Even if Fields isn’t the starter once the regular season begins, his work running the first-team offense has been invaluable in matchups against the Steelers defense. It gives the defense an idea of what to expect twice during the regular season when they face Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.

“It’s good for us because that means we have to be really sharp on our rush lanes and how we are rushing the quarterback,” defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said. “It also means we have to be really sharp if we are in our zones and see him scramble in terms of coming out of coverage and corralling him.”

Fields dialed back the running last season — he totaled 657 yards — but he made incremental progress in his passing numbers. His 61.4 completion percentage was one point higher than the 2022 season, he passed for a career-best 2,562 yards and reduced his interceptions from 11 to nine.

Still, Fields won just 10 games during his tenure with the Bears, and his progression wasn’t fast enough for management, which traded him to the Steelers before drafting quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick.

Fields said the Steelers have done little tinkering with his mechanics and have emphasized two areas in which they would like to see him excel.

“The biggest thing they care about here is accuracy and timing,” he said. “They want you to get the ball out on time and be accurate.”

In training camp, the Steelers also have asked Fields to be aggressive with his pass attempts. That means sometimes taking deep shots down the field with a receiver in double coverage.

“Nobody wants to see negative plays,” Smith said. “But if we just sit there and check down for completion percentage … we’ve got to see what we can really do and what he can see in the pocket. Having more reps, to me, has accelerated that process.

“He’s done a good job so far.”