Justin Fields: ‘I showed what I can do’ to become the Steelers’ starting quarterback

When the Pittsburgh Steelers acquired Justin Fields in a trade, they already had an extra quarterback on the roster.

The Steelers acquired Fields from Chicago, which had the rights to Caleb Williams, about a week after the Steelers offered Russell Wilson a one-year contract.

Fields was the likely replacement, but with just two weeks left until the start of the season, head coach Mike Tomlin has yet to name a starting quarterback.

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Justin Fields of the Pittsburgh Steelers in action against the Houston Texans on August 9, 2024, at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. (Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Fields is just one of three quarterbacks to ever rush for 1,000 yards in a season, joining Michael Vick and Lamar Jackson. But his passing stats are less impressive.

However, Fields says he did enough to get the job.

“I think I’ve shown what I can do,” Fields told reporters on Thursday. “I think the time I’ve had with the (first team) in training camp has gone well. I think we’ve grown a lot every day. But at the end of the day, it’s not up to me. I mean, I’m just going to be the same person every day, every single day, be a leader for this team and work my butt off, and everything else will take care of itself.”

Russell Wilson (3) next to Justin Fields (2) of the Pittsburgh Steelers during an offseason workout at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on June 6, 2024 in Pittsburgh. (Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

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“I try not to think about things that I can’t control,” Fields added. “I just try to think about the things that I can control. So I can’t control whether or not I’m going to be the starter. I can control how I come in every day, how I work every day and how I treat my teammates and every day.”

The Bears drafted Williams after acquiring a first-round pick from the Carolina Panthers and Carolina finished with the league’s worst record.

As a starter, Fields is 10-28, completing 60.3% of his passes for 6,674 yards, 40 touchdowns, 30 interceptions and 11 lost fumbles.

Justin Fields of the Pittsburgh Steelers warms up before an exhibition game against the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium on August 9, 2024 in Pittsburgh. (Justin Berl/Getty Images)

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The good news for Tomlin is that it might not matter. The Steelers haven’t finished below .500 since 2003.

Pittsburgh concludes pre-season training on Saturday and Wilson is set to start.

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