The Steelers’ Justin Fields is getting a lot of support from Mike Tomlin despite the bench

The The Pittsburgh Steelers’ season is in tatters during the last five weeks, as Mike TomlinThe team’s 10-3 record fell apart in five straight losses. The last of those losses came against the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card round in a 28-14 loss that ended the Steelers’ season.

Justin Fields started the season as Pittsburgh’s quarterback, finishing 4-2 in the first six games of the season. Despite the winning result, Fields was replaced by Russell Wilson after Wilson returned from a calf injury. The Steelers continued to win for a while with Wilson before a late-season slump, and Fields saw situational action as a short-yardage running back.

Although Fields was benched during the season, Tomlin was very complementary to the young quarterback after the season according to Steelers beat writer Mark Caboli.

“Absolutely,” Tomlin said when asked if Fields has proven he’s a starter, per Kaboli. “I think the way he has managed his professional circumstances is really impressive.” I thought he brought urgency to his daily work regardless of his role. I thought he was getting better in our game system during the process. I thought the way he was acting made it a legitimate thought or idea at this point.”

Fields is a free agent this offseason as is Wilson, so it’s unclear at this point whether Fields will have a chance to prove himself as the starting quarterback next season and where that chance might come.

Where does Justin Fields fit in best?

Justin Fields had an up-and-down season with the Steelers this season, and will now hit the open market with an uncertain and incomplete resume as an NFL quarterback. Even en route to winning four of his six starts with the Steelers this season, Fields struggled to consistently move the ball through the air and often relied on his running ability to create big plays.

For that reason, he’s the best fit for Fields next season if he wants to become a starter probably in Pittsburgh with Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator. Smith has plenty of experience working with tight end quarterbacks and has shown he can maximize that type of player.

Smith could use Fields in a similar way to how he used Marcus Mariota during his time in Atlanta with the Falcons. Fields still has plenty of room to grow as a passer when it comes to accuracy, pocket management, avoiding sacks and attacking the middle of the field, but playing in Smith’s system would allow him to work on those things while also playing to his strengths.

If Fields goes somewhere outside of Pittsburgh, he could find himself being asked to do things that make him more uncomfortable than he would be in Smith’s system, which he doesn’t need at this point in his career. Therefore, it would benefit Fields to find a way to return to Pittsburgh for another year.