Justin Fields will be the third-string (emergency) QB for Monday night’s Pittsburgh Steelers-New York Giants matchup, nursing a minor hamstring enjoy. The fourth-year quarterback, who started Pittsburgh’s first six games, can only play if starter Russell Wilson and backup Kyle Allen both are injured.
Last week, Wilson started over Fields for the first time this season. The Steelers have a bye week in Week 9, which should give Fields time to heel. Let’s look at why Fields was demoted and where he fits on the Steelers’ QB depth chart.
Russell Wilson Starting Over Justin Fields for Second Straight Game
The Steelers acquired Fields in an offseason trade with the Chicago Bears, who selected quarterback Caleb Williams as the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Fields joined a QB room that already included Wilson, whom Pittsburgh signed earlier in the offseason after his release from the Denver Broncos.
Neither considered a no-doubt starter, Fields and Wilson were set to battle for the Steelers’ top QB job during training camp. But a late-July quad injury forced Wilson to miss most of camp and the first six games of the regular season.
Fields began the season as the starter and led Pittsburgh to a 3-0 record. However, his respectable statistical output didn’t match what the film showed, and head coach Mike Tomlin insisted Wilson would be considered a starting option upon his return.
Both of Justin Fields touchdown runs came off scrambles with the Colts running man coverage.
His rushing ability is a "get out of jail free card" in the low red zone.
Even if the defense plays it perfectly, he's athletic enough to make a play on his own. pic.twitter.com/G2SCAxGBPR
— Derrick (@Steelers_DB) September 30, 2024
Fields eventually compiled a 4-2 record in the first six games. After leading Pittsburgh to a 32-16 Week 6 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, Fields was replaced by Wilson for the Steelers’ Week 7 matchup with the New York Jets.
Pittsburgh earned a 37-15 win over the Jets, and Wilson is in line to start again when the Steelers host the Giants on Monday.
Putting Fields’ Performance Into Statistical Context
Fantasy football managers were scratching their heads after Fields’ benching, as the dual-threat QB posted decent stats in his six starts.
Fields completed 66.3% of his passes (the highest rate of his career) for 1,106 yards and five touchdowns, along with just one interception. He also rushed 55 times for 231 yards and five scores.
Fields was especially prolific in Week 4 when he threw for 312 yards and a TD while adding 55 yards and two scores on the ground. His Pro Football Network QB+ Metric grade was 66.2, the eighth-highest for Week 6. Fields’ 61.1 grade in Week 2 also ranked eighth.
However, Fields, whose QB+ grade ranked outside the top 10 in his other four starts, also took 16 sacks, which ranked among the most in the NFL before his benching. His six lost fumbles are still tied for the most among all quarterbacks.
Fields delivered some explosive plays down the field but primarily relied on checkdowns, thus lowering the ceiling of Pittsburgh’s offense.
His 7.0 average air yards per pass attempt rank eighth-fewest among QBs with at least four starts, per TruMedia. Moreover, 45.6% of Fields’ attempts were for fewer than five air yards, the 13th-highest rate among quarterbacks with at least four starts.
Other stats paint a similarly meh picture of Fields. He ranks 16th in EPA (expected points added) per dropback, 19th in completion percentage, 20th in passer rating against pressure, and 14th in overall passer rating.
Will Wilson outperform those numbers? We’ll find out in the coming weeks, but he might not be a big upgrade.
How Did Wilson Perform in His First Steelers Start?
Wilson was solid but unspectacular in his first Steelers start.
In the first half against New York, the veteran went 8 for 17 for 145 yards and a touchdown, with 44 of those yards coming on a jump ball to George Pickens.
Overall, Wilson completed 16 of 29 passes for 264 yards and two TDs, along with zero interceptions, while taking one sack and rushing for three yards and a score.
Dan Orlovsky with a cool respect shout out to Justin Fields that showed up on all-22 👍 #Steelers #NFL pic.twitter.com/sW9a1EP67J
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) October 21, 2024
Wilson was similarly reliant on short passes, ranking third in Week 7 with 55.2% of his attempts going for fewer than five air yards. He also ranked 13th in passer rating against pressure and 23rd in completion percentage.
However, Wilson also ranked eighth in overall passer rating and fifth in EPA per dropback. His 70.6 PFN QB+ Metric grade was fifth-best among all starting quarterbacks.
Wilson likely will keep his job if he plays well against the Giants, but he’s limited and should be on a short leash.
Who Else Is on Steelers QB Depth Chart?
Wilson and Allen will serve as the top two quarterbacks on the Steelers’ QB depth chart, with Fields the emergency QB.
Allen, who signed with Pittsburgh last offseason, has been a career backup outside of making 12 starts for the Carolina Panthers in 2019. He has a 7-12 record in 19 career starts.
Allen threw one pass in mop-up duty during the Week 5 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He was inactive the last two weeks while serving as the emergency third QB.
For his career, Allen has a 62.7 completion percentage, along with 4,753 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions.