Steelers' Justin Fields embraces opportunity to take 1st-team reps with Russell Wilson out

So, there was some uncertainty about who would take first-team reps at quarterback when the Pittsburgh Steelers opened training camp, after all.

Just not for the reason some predicted.

Justin Fields ran with the starting offense on Day 1 of camp at Saint Vincent on Thursday. It wasn’t because coach Mike Tomlin deemed him ahead of Russell Wilson on the depth chart, though. It was because Wilson was experiencing tightness in his calf.

No matter the impetus, though, Fields was happy for the opportunity.

“I was definitely trying to take advantage of each and every rep I got today,” Fields said afterward.

So, how did he think it went?

“It wasn’t perfect,” Fields said, “but it felt all right. I felt all right overall and got some good reps in, for sure.”

Like Wilson, Fields has been a multi-year starter in the NFL and was the primary starter for his team last season. Acquired in exchange for a late-round draft pick from the Chicago Bears, Fields took second-team reps all throughout organized team activities and minicamp. Wilson, a 14-year veteran who was the primary starter in 2022 and 2023 for the Denver Broncos, has been anointed in “pole position” to start.

But when Wilson woke up feeling less than 100%, Tomlin decided to hand the reins over to Fields. Fields found out via text message upon waking up.

“He was excited about opportunity to lead the first group out of huddle and take charge today,” Tomlin said.

The results were mixed. Fields connected a few times on throws over the middle to tight end Pat Freiermuth. He hit Van Jefferson in stride on a long pass down the left sideline that traveled about 45 yards in the air.

Jefferson, it should be noted, was open because cornerback Donte Jackson fell down on the play. And Fields later on missed badly on a wobbly ball thrown down the left sideline that fell out of bounds nowhere near its intended target.

Overall, though, Fields felt better for the experience — and the Steelers probably feel better that he got it.

“It’s good to have some short-term adversity and some stuff that is not expected,” Fields said about the short notice in taking first-team snaps. “We are going to face things in games that aren’t expected. It’s about how we react to those situations and how we adjust.”