Steelers note: Justin Fields deployed in short-yardage ‘jumbo’ package fails early

CLEVELAND — During the first half of Thursday night’s game, the Pittsburgh Steelers went “big” with a play involving backup quarterback Justin Fields.

Twice.

However, the results were not good.

On two short-yardage, “possession-down” occasions during the first quarter, the Steelers inserted Fields into the game in place of starting quarterback Russell Wilson. Those two situations combined gave the Steelers minus-7 yards.

For each, the Steelers used a “jumbo” formation involving an extra offensive lineman (Spencer Anderson) and three other tight ends with running back Cordarrelle Patterson lined up wide.

The first — on a third-and-1 from the Steelers’ 44-yard line just 2 minutes, 43 seconds into the game — was thwarted by a false start.

About 9 minutes into the game later during the Steelers’ second drive, the same personnel package and formation was displayed. But on fourth-and-2 from the Browns’ 38, Fields lost 2 yards on a play that seemed doomed from the start.

Jefferson walks out

Van Jefferson left the game during the first quarter after suffering a quadriceps injury. Steelers’ wide receiver no. 2, Jefferson, was considered “questionable” to return to the game by the team during an announcement late in the first quarter.

Jefferson had a 4-yard reception with 4:16 left in the first quarter. He did not play the rest of the first half, but returned in the second half.

Familiar face

Former Steelers inside linebacker Devin Bush joined the Cleveland captains who came out for the pregame coin toss. Bush played four seasons for the Steelers, who traded up to No. 10 overall in the 2019 draft to select him. The Steelers did not pick up Bush’s fifth-year option in 2022, and he ended up losing his starting job at the end of that season.

Bush played for the Seattle Seahawks last season before signing a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Browns this spring.

Four days earlier, Steelers included linebacker Patrick Queen at midfield for the coin toss in Queen’s first game against his former teammates. Queen spent his first four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens.

Sutton starts

In his third game back with the team after serving an eight-game suspension, Cameron Sutton got the start on the Steelers defense. For the first snap of the Browns’ opening possession, the Steelers went with their 3-4 “base” defense, and Sutton joined regular cornerbacks Joey Porter Jr. and Donte Jackson and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick as defensive backs on the field.

DeShon Elliott had started the first 10 games of the season at safety.

Sutton, who began his career playing for the Steelers from 2017-22, played 27% of the defensive snaps the previous two games against Washington and Baltimore.

Big Game Austin

Calvin Austin’s 46-yard catch early in the second quarter was the Steelers’ second-longest play of the season. Austin also has the only longer play — a 55-yard touchdown reception during a Week 3 win against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Before Thursday, Austin had catches of 36, 29 and 25 yards this season among his first 17 receptions. The 36-yard gain Sunday gave Austin a new career high for catches for a season. He had 17 during his first NFL action last year.

The long completion to Austin on Thursday was Wilson’s eighth of at least 34 yards over his first four-plus starts in 2024. Fields had five in six starts and Kenny Pickett had seven passes, the most over 12 starts in 2023.

Miller scratched

For the second time in three games since the Steelers acquired Mike Williams, wide receiver Scotty Miller was ruled inactive.

A six-year veteran who won a Super Bowl ring and played with Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020, Miller has generally served as the WR4 in his first season with the Steelers. But the Nov. 5 trade for Williams rendered him useless. The Steelers have instead opted to insert Ben Skowronek, mostly for his special teams prowess.

Miller played seven snaps during Sunday’s win against the Baltimore Ravens. He has two catches on four targets for 31 yards this season.

The Steelers announced Wednesday that outside linebacker Alex Highsmith would miss a second straight game with an ankle injury suffered 10 days earlier late in a win at the Washington Commanders. Highsmith was the only player on the active roster unavailable due to injury.

Veteran running back Jonathan Ward and interior offensive lineman Max Scharping were healthy scratches. As usual, Kyle Allen served as the “emergency” No. 3 quarterbacks.

Ifedi at LT for Browns

With Jedrick Wills out with a knee injury, veteran German Ifedi made his first start of the season with the Browns.

Ifedi is in his first year with Cleveland, but was a starter in the NFL from 2016-22.

The only other player on Cleveland’s active roster who was unable to play Thursday due to injury was backup tight end Geoff Swaim.

Veteran running back D’Onta Foreman and reserve cornerback Chigozie Anusiem were healthy inactives for the Browns. Veteran Bailey Zappe, who beat the Steelers as a starter for New England less than a year ago, was named the No. 3 QB.