NFL insider Dianna Russini made it clear that the Pittsburgh Steelers plan on having Russell Wilson as their starting quarterback in 2024. But she also noted that the dynamic Justin Fields will have a special package.
“We’ll start with the idea of Justin Fields having some packages for him in this offense. 100 percent that is the plan, they’ve already worked on it,” she said during the debut of her Scoop City podcast. “It’s in the playbook. So you’re going to see that in Arthur Smith’s playbook, and defensive coordinators around the league are all prepared for that. That is not news to them at all.
“Let me make it clear. Russell Wilson is the starter. It’s going to be a competitive training camp. Justin Fields is there for a reason, but they want Russell Wilson the veteran, the guy who knows how to do it, to be the starter coming out of Week 1.”
Robert Griffin III suggested in May that the Steelers should create a special red zone package for Fields.
“The @steelers should create a red zone package for Justin Fields and call it the “Field Zone Package”. They can utilize his dynamic ability with RPOs, boots, keepers and nakeds to stretch the defense while utilizing him and Russell Wilson to the fullest this year,” Griffin said.
“This year [Mike Tomlin] doesn’t have just one, but two dynamic quarterbacks that bring an element of playmaking with their style of play. So that’s what I wanna see the Pittsburgh Steelers utilize Russell Wilson and Justin Fields at the same time. How do you do it? You create a red zone package for Justin Fields. Allow him to use his athleticism and his running ability to punch in touchdowns.”
Since 2022, Justin Fields has the most rushing yards by a quarterback with 1,800 yards and 6.3 yards per carry. Both figures are higher than Lamar Jackson’s. Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees also wants to see Justin Fields used in a different way in Pittsburgh, and compared him to Taysom Hill.
“Justin Fields obviously has an incredible skill set and I’m excited to see how Pittsburgh uses him this year,” Brees said on the Dan Patrick Show. “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?
Wilson said at OTAs that he is on board with a special package for Fields. He believes that dimension would “strike fear in defenses.”
“Justin is obviously one of the most talented guys in the NFL,” Wilson said. “You know all the things he can do. The player, the quarterback that he is. He’s dynamic. It’s all about us winning. That’s the focus. I think it would strike fear in some defenses, that’s for sure.
“Justin is a franchise quarterback. He’s a guy that can do a lot of amazing things,” Wilson said. “So, we have two dynamic guys that can do a lot of special things.”