Justin Fields had one of the best games of his career for the New York Jets in Week 1.
According to NFL Insider Dianna Russini of The Athletic, multiple people within the Pittsburgh Steelers organization fired off a “Told Ya So” message in response to head coach Mike Tomlin.
Last year, when the Steelers had both [Russell] Wilson and Justin Fields, coach Mike Tomlin made the switch from Fields to Wilson six games in, despite some internal pushback and with the Steelers 4-2. Fields had plenty of supporters in the locker room and even on the staff. The team rolled with Wilson, who gave them a spark early but ultimately flamed out,” Russini explained.
So when the Steelers lined up against the Jets last week and saw Fields on the other sideline — playing refreshed, decisive and free — let’s just say there were more than a few people saying ‘told ya so’ inside the organization,” Russini added.
But some in Pittsburgh’s building can’t help but revisit Mike Tomlin’s decision to bench Justin Fields for Russell Wilson last year after having front-row seats to Fields’ Jets debut.
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Fields Was Exceptional, but Now It’s Time for an Encore
The former Ohio State product passed both the look test and the statistical test in Week 1 for the Jets.
I tried telling you guys….Justin Fields is that guy. Poised for a breakout season,” former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel posted on social media.
For as good as Fields was, and he was good, it was only one week. The next step for Fields is consistency and seeing this level of quarterback play on a weekly basis.
“I just didn’t see it in training camp. You know, I certainly didn’t see it in any of the preseason games this summer. He had some days in practice during camp, where it was not good. The Jets kept saying, ‘Just wait, he will get it.’ I get it, it’s a new offense, his fourth system in five years, that’s a tough situation. But [in Week 1] his accuracy was on point, going 16-of-22, he made good decisions, and he threw from the pocket; straight drop back,” Cimini said on the “It’s Always Gameday in Buffalo” podcast.
“I thought there’d be a lot of rollouts, designed rollouts, and that sort of thing, but there really wasn’t. All of his throws came as a drop-back passer, he got the ball into tight windows, I mean, I was blown away by how good he was now again like [Armand] Membou, you want to see it on a week-to-week basis, but I can tell you the players in the locker room were fired up by his performance for sure,” Cimini revealed.
‘Now again like with [Armand] Membou you want to see it on a week to week basis but I can tell you one thing, the players in the locker room were fired
Tanner Engstrand Is the Key to Fields’ Success With the Jets
Fields was the frontman. He received all the rose petals for his sterling performance in the season opener.
However, the puppeteer behind the scenes pulling the strings was first-time NFL playcaller Tanner Engstrand.
He pushed all of the right buttons in Week 1. Engstrand is a mystery man, and the Steelers didn’t have any tape on him to study. The Buffalo Bills, the Jets‘ Week 2 opponent, got a sneak peek.
Everyone wants an encore performance from Fields, but as important is a strong encore from Engstrand on Sunday.
Steelers Fire 3-Word Message to Mike Tomlin After Justin Fields Mistake