Tim Benz: Justin Fields says he's willing to try a Taysom Hill-type of role if asked
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields is keeping an open mind when it comes to the notion of being used in a Taysom Hill/Kordell Stewart-type of role.
Speaking with TribLive on Tuesday, Fields didn’t rule out the concept of getting on the field in a pass-catching or rushing capacity as Hill has been utilized with the New Orleans Saints over recent years, or how Stewart was in Pittsburgh during the 1990s.
“When my name is called, I’ll be ready,” Fields said when I posed that scenario to him.
In whatever capacity the Steelers asked of him?
“In whatever capacity. Exactly,” Fields replied.
The exchange about that prospect with Fields came out of a larger conversation about what takes place in organized team activities, play installation and offensive experimentation this time of year. It’s a talking point that has become top of mind in the NFL this week with the news about the NFL Players Association mulling a proposal to change the offseason schedule in a way that could ostensibly eliminate OTAs as we have come to know them.
But, to be clear, Fields insists if the Steelers are considering any such “Slash” or Taysom-esque packages, they haven’t incorporated them as of yet.
“We haven’t really talked much about that. We’ve just been installing plays,” Fields said.
In terms of whether or not Fields is intrigued by such an idea, he replied, “Anytime I step on the field, I’m ready to go.”
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Given Fields’ athleticism, many across the football landscape have encouraged the Steelers to figure out a way to get him on the field for a certain number of plays per game, even if Russell Wilson is the starter — whether that means the former Chicago Bear gets a series or two per game at QB in place of Wilson or he is elsewhere in the formation with Wilson behind center.
Retired Saints quarterback Drew Brees pounded the drum for that on a recent appearance on “The Dan Patrick Show.”
“Justin Fields obviously has an incredible skill set, and I’m excited to see how Pittsburgh uses him this year,” Brees said. “I would actually envision a situation where it’s almost like a Taysom Hill-type package like we had in New Orleans. Russell Wilson is your starting quarterback, Justin Fields is getting seven to 10 snaps a game.
“How problematic would that be for a defense?”
Steelers tackle Broderick Jones localized the angle for us on Day 1 of OTAs last week when he cited Brees’ quote and broached the topic of Fields getting involved in ways other than being a conventional quarterback.
“Like Drew Brees said the other day, using one of the quarterbacks as a Taysom Hill if it presents itself,” Jones said. “You never know. We’ve got a whole new scheme, a whole new offense. No telling what they might throw at us.”
Fields has 2,220 rushing yards in three seasons from the quarterback position but no catches in his career.
In six years with the Saints, Hill has 76 catches for 756 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also has 398 carries, 2,159 yards and 27 touchdowns. Throwing the ball, Hill has completed 64% of his 298 passes for 2,348 yards and 11 TDs.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.
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