As expected, the Pittsburgh Steelers declined the 5th-year option for quarterback Justin Fields, as well as running back Najee Harris.
That’s not a surprise with the option for Fields costing $25 million.
Veteran and Super Bowl Champion Russell Wilson, who also signed this offseason, is set to be the starting quarterback.
That’s from Head Coach Mike Tomlin.
Fields will have a chance to show the coaches what he can do under center during Training Camp, but what about his skills as a kick returner?
Speaking on Cam Heyward’s No Just Football podcast, Steelers running back Jaylen Warren revealed that special teams coach Danny Smith said he’s considered using Fields.
“Our special teams coordinator was talking about Justin Fields being back there,” said Warren. “We looked at him like, ‘Justin Fields is going to be back there?!”
In March, the NFL passed a drastic and historic change to their kickoff rules, aiming to keep the play in the game while reducing injuries.
Here’s a basic summary of the new rules:
Play starts when the ball is either caught or hits the ground in the landing zone, or is returned from the end zone. Any kick that bounces from the landing zone into the end zone must be either returned or downed for a touchback, giving the receiving team the ball at their own 20-yard line.
If the kick fails to reach the landing zone in the air, the receiving team takes possession at their own 40-yard line. However, when the ball goes all the way to the end zone in the air, the receiving team can either return it, or down it and take possession at their own 30-yard line.
If the ball goes out of bounds, the receiving team takes possession at their own 40-yard line.