Steelers Justin Fields Returns Kickoffs Next Season As QB Picture Becomes Clear
It’s not totally clear who will be the beginning quarterback for the Steelers following season, but it certainly appears like Russell Wilson is the overpowering favorite based on what one part of the group said approximately a proposition to have Justin Areas return kickoffs.
The Pittsburgh Steelers were trusting Kenny Pickett had what it took to fill the void that shaped when Ben Roethlisberger resigned taking after the conclusion of his 18th season with the establishment in 2021. In any case, that did not conclusion up being the case.
Pickett supplanted Mitch Trubisky as the starter a month into his rookie campaign and eventually wrapped up with a 7-5 record amid a season where the group went 9-8. He did offer assistance them punch their ticket to the playoffs final year, but was more than once sidelined by the wounds that eventually driven to Bricklayer Rudolph getting the gesture for their as it were playoff amusement.
In Walk, the Steelers chosen to rotate by exchanging for Russell Wilson (a move that Pickett was supposedly less than excited to listen almost). One or two of weeks afterward, the QB was dispatched off to the Hawks on the same day Pittsburgh obtained Justin Areas from the Bears, who had moreover chosen to enter a unused period that started when they drafted Caleb Williams with the primary generally choose within the NFL Draft.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has been clear almost his plans to title Wilson as the team’s starter heading into the season but famous he plans to allow Areas “an opportunity to compete.” Whereas it’s secure to expect he’ll be riding the seat for the bulk of the season in the event that that closes up being the case, it sounds like he might see a few activity by being sent in a decently unforeseen part.
Steelers RB Jaylen Warren was as of late a visitor on a live scene of Not Fair Football with Cam Heyward, and amid the discussion, he was inquired on the off chance that he had any intrigued in accepting kickoffs presently that the NFL has redone its approach to that specific play.
He said he’d be open to the plausibility whereas dropping a really interesting piece of interior data, saying, “Our uncommon groups facilitator was talking around Justin Areas being back there. We were like, ‘Hold up! Hold up!’”
Areas ran a 4.45 40-yard-dash at the NFL Combine in 2021, and his capacity to scramble is one of his more profitable resources. Portion of the reason the NFL has adjusted its approach to the kickoff is to cut down on wounds, but utilizing Areas as a test case appears like a bit of an pointless chance for the Steelers.