PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins revealed he’s not only trying to make it a competition to be the back-up this year. He’s also talking about the more distant future.
Asked if he feels like this is a tryout to be the next Steelers franchise quarterback.
“I feel like that was the first day I got here,” Haskins said. “I’ve been told certain things. That’s between me and the coaches. Really I just have to go out there and prove I can play.”
That jumps out as he gets his first opportunity to play Thursday night in Canton with Mason Rudolph starting. Haskins will come in at some point after and finish the first half.
“He’s grown by leaps and bounds,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “He does a good job of communicating with coaches and with players. Gaining an understanding of what we are trying to do schematically; and his role in it. Gaining a rapport with the receivers, specifically. Trying to do the things that we want him to do.”
The 24-year-old Washington first round pick in 2019 said he still has a ways to go, but is getting more comfortable in his own skin. He makes it a point to learn about all the players, coaches and staff members around the Steelers. Haskins says it’s important as a quarterback to get the guys around you to believe in you.
He’s also working to show the troubles he had in Washington won’t happen again.
“Feel like I’ve grown a lot,” Haskins said. “Just being a mature person, it takes a lot of work. It’s very easy to go back to do easy stuff as a kid. (I’m) trying to be an adult and lead men.”
The Maryland native is attempting to do that with his play on the field, but also his time dedicated off of it.
“Earn the respect, something I’ve been trying to do since I’ve been here,” Haskins said. “Getting here early, staying late, meeting with coaches, watching more film, spending throwing time with guys after or talking to a guy at lunch I don’t normally talk to every day. It’s the small things like that where I can just help make the guys around me play for me.”
All of that sounds like good first steps, but his immediate opportunity is to win a job. The first step there, before he can be the next franchise quarterback, starts Thursday.