Amid Competition With Russell Wilson for QB1, “Too Early” to Decide Justin Fields’ Future With Steelers, Says OC Arthur Smith

The Steelers’ QB situation is unclear, and so is Justin Fields’ future with the team. Fields was traded to the Steelers in a 2021 first-round draft pick by the Bears—for a conditional sixth-round pick. While veteran Russell Wilson seems to be the favorite to start at QB1, OC Arthur Smith says it’s “too early” to determine Fields’ position with certainty yet.

Smith’s remarks emphasize how competitive the two QBs are still playing. Even though training camp is just getting started, Smith stresses that both players are “out here competing”. This highlights the Steelers’ dedication to allowing competition to run wild. In an interview with Missi Matthews of Steelers, the OC said, “It’s too early… Both of those guys, they’re playing QB, and they’re out here competing. We know where we’re at in this part of the year, we’re playing football in shorts. It will be a fun time in Latrobe, watching those guys compete.”

However, the potential for Justin Fields being QB1 adds another layer of complexity. This offensive strategy would likely capitalize on the QB’s unique skills, especially his running speed. In an NFL athleticism score, the 25-year-old ran a 4.45-second 40-yard dash—and ended as the no.1 overall QB among other teams. With Smith’s team ending a lowly 30th overall and Pittsburgh struggling to rank 25th (in terms of running offense), the outcome for Fields becomes even more fascinating. 

Also, given the availability of proven running backs Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris, Smith should be able to incorporate Fields’ rushing ability into a special package—regardless of whether he’s selected as QB1. The training camp competition will ultimately determine Fields’ fate. But will the team maximize the skills of a seasoned gunslinger Russell Wilson, or make the young, inexperienced player the starting QB? OC Smith’s ideologies on offensive strategy will help handle this complex QB situation.

OC Smith’s past hints as a run-heavy Steelers offense!

The Steelers hired former Falcons’ head coach Arthur Smith to be their next OC. Smith’s offenses in Atlanta and Tennessee had some of the league’s best rushing attacks. With Pittsburgh, Smith adopts a cautious strategy, giving depth and adaptability top priority—with offense-dominance. Although the team is still withholding specifics, training camp will essentially develop a unified offensive identity.

The OC’s past success illustrates a potential shift toward run-heavy offense. Under Smith’s first two seasons, the Titans, led by one of the best NFL running backs Derrick Henry, averaged 153.5 rushing yards per game and 5.1 rushing yards per carry—second only to the Ravens. What’s more, the Titans placed second in the league with their average of 2.02 rushing yards after contact and 133 rushes of 10 yards or more.

Back in 2023, Smith came up with a more potent running back duo scheme than his current one. He received a lot of flak in his last season with the Falcons for using first-round running back Bijan Robinson inconsistently. Despite having a great deal of talent, Robinson only managed two 100-yard rushing performances during the season—both of which occurred in the opening month. Despite playing 68% of the offensive snaps, Robinson only had 86 targets and 214 run attempts. Allgeier, on the other hand, saw action on 32% of offensive plays, with 186 rush attempts and 23 targets.

With OC Smith now a part of the Steelers, it’ll be exciting to see how he strategizes the offense with Justin Fields and Russell wilson. Training camp will be a testing ground for his philosophies. Can he establish a dominant rushing attack? Only time, and the decisions made during training camp, will tell.