The Steelers broke minicamp this week and now have a six-week break. Maybe new quarterback Justin Fields will have even more non-football plans with his new teammates.
Fields ticked off some of the stuff he did to get to know the Steelers, especially the linemen and receivers. He’s only been on the team for three months. But it’s important for quarterbacks, especially new ones, to learn the various personalities.
You can figure those out at … amusement parks?
“It’s super important,” Fields told reporters. “Everyone knows the closer you are as a team, the better you are. That is just the way it is
“We try to do outside activities. I have done bowling with the receivers a couple of times. Gone out to eat with the offensive line. Anything you can do to build that connection. Kennywood the other day, that was awesome getting to know guys on a personal level.”
Russell Wilson, another new Steelers quarterback, is doing the same. He even brought his wife, Ciara, and their children, to the amusement park.
The Steelers social media staff shared some photos of the “team bonding.” It doesn’t count as a practice, but it’s all part of getting better as a team.
Getting back to Fields, he joined the team via trade from the Bears days after Wilson signed with the Steelers. Pittsburgh also hired Arthur Smith, the former Falcons head coach, as its new offensive coordinator. So there is all sorts of new stuff for everyone, including the players on the roster a year ago.
Fields is definitely feel optimistic.
“I am feeling good,” he told reporters. “I am getting more and more comfortable each and every day. Just getting better every day. That is the goal, to build that foundation now that will last the whole season. Just focused on the details, the little things and stuff like that. Just growing and getting better every day.”
There also are a bevy of new receivers on the Steelers roster. George Pickens and Calvin Austin are the mainstays. Within the past year, Pittsburgh also added Van Jefferson, Quez Watkins, Scotty Miller, Denzel Mims, Cordarrelle Patterson and Marquez Callaway. Then toss in former Michigan star Roman Wilson, who was a third-round pick back in April.
Fields is working with all of them
“I am with new receivers, getting new connections, so there is some truth to that where guys don’t naturally have connections yet,” the Steelers quarterback said. “That is why we are out here practicing, building trust with each other. Everybody is kind of rotating in right now. It’s good that we are getting different reps with different guys to build that trust with each and every one.”
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