Steelers' Alex Highsmith Shares The Moment He Recognized Justin Fields Was A Freak Athlete

The Pittsburgh Steelers traded for quarterback Justin Fields this offseason. That surprised many since the team had already signed Russell Wilson to a one-year contract. Head Coach Mike Tomlin has indicated that Wilson will have the starting job, at least initially, and the plan is to allow Fields to develop behind Wilson. 

This makes a lot of sense. Fields is entering his fourth year in the league after being drafted 11th overall by the Chicago Bears. While Fields deserves some criticism for his struggles, it is impossible not to place some blame on the Bears. There have even been reports that Chicago was playing to lose. That has certainly created concerns about Fields' mental and emotional state and led the media to criticize him for not being upbeat enough.   

The one thing that no one can dispute is that Fields is an exceptional athlete. During his evaluations at the NFL Combine, he was given an athleticism score of 92. He presents as a dual-threat quarterback who absolutely crushes defenses with his legs. He is credited with drive, determination, and excellent leadership skills. Now he will soon be practicing against some of the players he once played against as he settles into Pittsburgh. 

Steelers edge rusher Alex Highsmith remembers the first time he realized what a fantastic athlete Fields was. He recently told Chris Long the story while a guest on his Green Light Podcast. Long told Highsmith he was impressed by how big Fields had gotten working out this offseason. He called him "young, fast, and explosive." 

"Dude's a special talent. He's a freak athlete and a great quarterback. I remember we played him in my second year. We played the Bears at home, it's like a Monday night game I think. I was chasing him around the edge, and he started scrambling out to the left side. I was chasing behind him. He turned around and looked at me, and he was gone. I'm talking about hit another level and I'm like, that's when I really realized how fast he was. I think he's going to provide a lot of value for us. He's a great quarterback as well, so the competition between the two is just going to bring out the best in them both. I just can't wait to see."

That game that Highsmith referenced was the only time Fields played the Steelers. The Steelers won the game 29-27, but it wasn't for lack of effort on the part of Fields and the Bears, who came back and scored 21 points in the fourth quarter. During that game, Fields had a passer rating of 89.9, throwing for 291 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He also rushed for an additional 45 yards.

Pittsburgh declined to pick up Fields' fifth-year option, which makes sense, given they haven't seen him play in their offense yet. However, they will have to make some big decisions about his future. He must be given opportunities if the team plans to keep Fields in the Steel City as the franchise's future. 

Will The Steelers Use Fields In Special Packages?

Since the team brought both Fields and Wilson on board, the fan base and the media have been divided about how the Steelers should use them both. Some think Fields should just spend the year watching and learning, while others think he should have special plays drawn up just for him, a la Taysom Hill. 

The Steelers were known to use some offensive wizardry back in the day, but that was only a long time ago. In recent years, we haven't seen anything remotely like Antwaan Randle El throwing a touchdown pass to Hines Ward. 

Wilson has proven effective in the red zone, and given the concerns about Fields turning the ball over, many think it is hard to imagine the Steelers switching it up. Time is also on Wilson's side. He has shown that he has the experience needed to help the Steelers win. 

How do you think the Steelers will utilize Fields' athleticism? Click to comment below.

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