The Steelers aren't expected to pick up the fifth-year option on Fields' rookie contract, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. It perhaps goes without saying, given that Fields is coming in as the second QB on the depth chart and would be guaranteed around $25.66 million in 2025 if the Steelers were to pick up his option before the May 2 deadline. While the team may have interest in keeping him around beyond the upcoming season, it won't be at that price before he's ever put on a Steelers uniform. Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports that fellow offseason acquisition Russell Wilson will enter offseason workouts in "pole position" at quarterback, with Fields then getting a chance to compete at some point in the future, according to coach Mike Tomlin. Fields is on track to be a free agent next spring, and his playing time between now and then seems largely dependent on Wilson struggling.
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Passing
| Year | Team | GP | ATT | CMP | CMP% | YDS | AVG | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | CHI | 13 | 370 | 227 | 61% | 2,562 | 7 | 16 | 9 |
| 2022 | CHI | 15 | 318 | 192 | 60% | 2,242 | 7 | 17 | 11 |
| 2021 | CHI | 12 | 270 | 159 | 59% | 1,870 | 7 | 7 | 10 |
Rushing
The Steelers aren't expected to pick up the fifth-year option on Fields' rookie contract, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. It perhaps goes without saying, given that Fields is coming in as the second QB on the depth chart and would be guaranteed around $25.66 million in 2025 if the Steelers were to pick up his option before the May 2 deadline. While the team may have interest in keeping him around beyond the upcoming season, it won't be at that price before he's ever put on a Steelers uniform. Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports that fellow offseason acquisition Russell Wilson will enter offseason workouts in "pole position" at quarterback, with Fields then getting a chance to compete at some point in the future, according to coach Mike Tomlin. Fields is on track to be a free agent next spring, and his playing time between now and then seems largely dependent on Wilson struggling.
Coach Mike Tomlin said Monday that Fields "will be given an opportunity to show his capabilities" even though Russell Wilson "has pole position" to be the starting quarterback, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. It's still not quite clear if the Steelers' two new quarterbacks will compete for the starting job this spring/summer, as Tomlin's comments could also be interpreted as a suggestion that Wilson will be the No. 1 but without any assurances of staying in the spot if he struggles in practice (and eventually games). Reports shortly after Fields was traded suggested he'd be coming in as a clear backup, though it's probably worth noting that the QB-related reporting out of Pittsburgh this offseason has been rather unreliable. In any case, the team did well to acquire Wilson on a one-year, $1.21 million contract, later adding Fields in exchange for a sixth-round pick (that can become a fourth-rounder if he plays more than half the snaps in 2024). Neither QB is signed beyond the upcoming season, and the Steelers are unlikely to pick up the fifth-year option on Fields' rookie contract before the May 2 deadline.
Fields, whom the Steelers acquired from the Bears on Saturday in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round pick, isn't expected to compete for Pittsburgh's starting quarterback job and is line to serve as a backup to Russell Wilson during the 2024 season, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports. Though Fields is due a larger salary in the final year of his rookie deal in 2024 than Wilson will earn on his one-year, $1.21 million contract, the Steelers are inclined to have Fields learn from Wilson rather than looking for the 25-year-old to directly challenge the nine-time Pro Bowler for the top spot on the depth chart. While Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette notes that the Steelers are expected to decline Fields' pricey $25.66 million player option for 2025 prior to the May 2 deadline to do so, such a move wouldn't necessarily preclude Pittsburgh from re-signing the signal-caller next offseason if they're satisfied with his work in practices or in any action he might see in place of Wilson during his first season in the organization. Given that the 2025 sixth-round pick the Steelers gave up to acquire Fields would turn into a fourth-round pick if he plays more than 51 percent of the team's snaps this season, Pittsburgh has some extra incentive to stay committed to Wilson, at least for the early part of the campaign. Fields' fantasy outlook could brighten in 2025 if the Steelers commit to him as a starter or if he lands a more favorable opportunity elsewhere in free agency next spring, but at least for the upcoming season, he doesn't look as though he'll be anything more than a luxury stash in most redraft leagues.
The Steelers acquired Fields from the Bears on Saturday in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round draft pick, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. According to Schefter, the 2025 pick can become a fourth-round pick if Fields reaches an unspecified playing-time threshold with the Steelers in 2024. The trade sets up an interesting quarterback situation for the Steelers, who signed Russell Wilson to a low-cost one-year deal in free agency after he was waived by the Broncos earlier in the week. The Bears, meanwhile, have cleared the deck to draft a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, which in all likelihood will be USC's Caleb Williams.
This comes as no surprise after Fields logged three full practices during Week 11 prep. He'll thus put an end to a four-game absence Sunday and take over quarterback duties for the Bears for the first time since Week 6. Fields will aim to produce against a Lions defense that has given up the eighth-most combined touchdowns (17) to opposing QBs in nine games this season.
A dislocated right thumb has kept Fields from playing in the Bears' last four games, but after putting in a full practice Monday for the first time since Week 6, he appears on track to end his streak of absences this Sunday in Detroit. According to Larry Mayer of the Bears' official site, head coach Matt Eberflus said earlier Wednesday that Fields is "progressing well" and the team plans to have him start against the Lions, though formal confirmation on the matter may not be made until after Chicago's final practice of the week Friday. Over his first six starts before exiting midway through a Week 6 loss to the Vikings with the injury, Fields completed 61.7 percent of his passes for 7.4 yards per attempt and 11 touchdowns against six interceptions while accounting for 237 yards and another score as a runner.
Fields has missed the last three games due to a dislocated right thumb, but he appears to be closing in on a return to game action. While he hasn't been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Panthers, he won't benefit from a typical week of prep work as he aims to avoid a fourth consecutive missed game. The Bears will continue to evaluate him in the coming days, and if he's unavailable Thursday, it certainly seems possible that he could return Week 11 against the Lions on Nov. 19.
On a positive note, Fields was able to practice in a limited capacity Friday. Still, considering his designation for Week 9 action, he's poised to miss a third consecutive contest due to a dislocated right thumb. Once Fields' lack of availability is confirmed approximately 90 minutes before Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff, Tyson Bagent will serve as the Bears' starting quarterback yet again.
The Bears haven't officially ruled out Fields for their Week 9 game in New Orleans, but the signal-caller appears headed for a third straight absence with head coach Matt Eberflus having already confirmed that Tyson Bagent will pick up another start at quarterback Sunday. Fields hasn't been able to practice in any fashion since dislocating his right thumb in the Bears' Week 6 loss to the Vikings, but Ian Rapoport of NFL Network relays that Eberflus has optimism that Fields will be able to practice in some capacity this week. At this stage, Fields' primary obstacle in returning to game action is regaining grip strength with his thumb. If he shows meaningful progress in practice this week, Fields could have a shot at starting the Bears' Week 10 game against the Panthers next Thursday.
Career History
Previous Game
2023 Regular Season Stats
|
Regular Season
|
passing
|
rushing
|
|||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Date
|
Opp
|
Result
|
ATT
|
CMP
|
CMP%
|
YDS
|
AVG
|
TD
|
INT
|
CAR
|
YDS
|
AVG
|
TD
|
LNG
|
FD
|
|
1/7
|
L 9-17
|
16
|
11
|
68.8
|
148
|
9.3
|
0
|
0
|
8
|
27
|
3.4
|
0
|
7
|
0
|
|
|
12/31
|
W 37-17
|
32
|
20
|
62.5
|
268
|
8.4
|
1
|
0
|
11
|
45
|
4.1
|
1
|
13
|
4
|
|
|
12/24
|
W 27-16
|
27
|
15
|
55.6
|
170
|
6.3
|
1
|
1
|
9
|
97
|
10.8
|
1
|
39
|
2
|
|
|
12/17
|
L 17-20
|
40
|
19
|
47.5
|
166
|
4.2
|
1
|
2
|
7
|
30
|
4.3
|
0
|
15
|
0
|
|
|
12/10
|
W 28-13
|
33
|
19
|
57.6
|
223
|
6.8
|
1
|
0
|
12
|
58
|
4.8
|
1
|
19
|
3
|
|
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