Pair of bad snaps mars QB Justin Fields’ Steelers debut

The final stat line from Friday night shows Justin Fields had a passer rating of 113.2. He had only one incompletion, and it, perhaps, should have counted if officials had ruled differently regarding an out-of-bounds call.

But Fields recognizes that his raw numbers aren’t the full story for his Pittsburgh Steelers game debut, even during a meaningless exhibition. After all, each of the three drives Fields directed in starting Friday’s loss to the Houston Texans ended with a punt.

“We ran the ball well, moved the ball well, (but) I think in just a summary of the game, we were just shooting ourselves in the foot,” Fields said. “Fumbled snaps … we could definitely be better on that part.”

QB Justin Fields on his Steelers in-game debut pic.twitter.com/imHnSeTZvq

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) August 10, 2024

Fields was charged with a fumble on two of the first seven Steelers offensive plays of the game, though it should be noted that center Nate Herbig said the botched snaps were his fault. But Fields also was sacked twice among his eight dropbacks.

The offense totaled 74 yards during Fields’ three series, one time going three-and-out.

“I feel like I was in a good rhythm,” said Fields, No. 11 overall draft pick in 2021 who started 38 games the past three seasons for the Chicago Bears. “Like I said, I think we were moving the ball well. Just the fumbled snaps, things like that, they can kill a whole drive. I think the overall rhythm of things, we were in and out of the huddle fast and felt good overall.”

Nate Herbig said he “100% takes the blame” for the two bad snaps Friday with Justin Fields

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) August 10, 2024

Starting because Russell Wilson has been limited throughout training camp because of a calf injury, Fields twice connected with George Pickens and once each with Van Jefferson, Najee Harris and Pat Freiermuth. All are fixtures on the first-team offense that Fields has spent most of camp directing in lieu of the 35-year-old Wilson, who almost assuredly will begin the regular season as the starter.

But the 25-year-old Fields — acquired in a March trade in exchange for a late-round draft pick — has been given an extended look to see if he can be the Steelers’ quarterback of the future. His results in limited action Friday were a lot like what he’s shown at Saint Vincent: his prodigious talent displayed via some big-time throws, but some mistakes and a tendency to get sacked.

“I thought he did some nice things,” coach Mike Tomlin said, “but, obviously, he was a component of the (center-quarterback) exchange. From my perspective, that’s dual responsibility on the center and quarterback. It negated a lot of good things going on in those first couple drives.”

Tomlin said he expects Wilson to be available for the Steelers’ next preseason game Aug. 17. That could mean Fields’ days running the first-team offense in practice might be coming to a close.

The two weeks he spent doing so at Saint Vincent, though, largely translated well in the game Friday.

“He seemed composed,” veteran right guard James Daniels said. “Operationally, of course, we had the fumbled snaps, but in the play call and things like that … I thought he did a pretty good job.”