Justin Fields is currently competing with Russell Wilson for the starting quarterback position with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite showing some promise in his first preseason game, Fields drew criticism from head coach Mike Tomlin for his role in several fumbles during the team’s 20-10 loss to the Houston Texans.
Tomlin acknowledged that Fields made some positive plays but noted that he was involved in the issues with the center-quarterback exchange, which he sees as a shared responsibility between the quarterback and the center. This problem overshadowed some of the promising moments from Fields during the early drives.
In his debut, Fields demonstrated solid potential as he attempts to reclaim a starting role. Former quarterback Dan Orlovsky analyzed Fields’ performance in a post-game clip, breaking down three plays and expressing concern about Fields’ fumble issues under center, which might be due to a lack of synchronization with his new center.
Tomlin’s assessment reflects that Fields’ debut was a mix of both good and bad. On the positive side, the Steelers moved effectively early in the game, advancing quickly into Texans territory. Fields completed 5 of 6 passes for 67 yards, achieving a commendable 113.2 quarterback rating.
However, Fields’ two drives were marred by fumbles during exchanges with center Nate Herbig. Although the Steelers recovered both fumbles, the loss of downs and yards ultimately stalled their progress.
Herbig took responsibility for the fumbles, but Tomlin is concerned about Fields’ performance, especially given his previous struggles with the Bears. With Wilson set to return for the next preseason game, the competition for the starting quarterback spot is expected to intensify.
