HASKINS MAKES THE MOST OF BEING NO. 3
Will play with just a few first-teamers
Dwayne Haskins will go an entire slate of preseason games without a chance to play with the Steelers’ firstteam offense. Those opportunities went to Ben Roethlisberger and Mason Rudolph, who are 1-2 on the depth chart.
Haskins remains at No. 3, and he’s not bemoaning the summer’s best reps went to the two established quarterbacks on the roster.
“It’s all a business,” Haskins said Wednesday afternoon following practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “You have to earn the right to have those types of reps. It’s my first year here. The opportunities I do get I have to make the most of them so that I can get more.
“I don’t have an expectation that I have to get varsity reps or be with the 1s, or if I don’t, I’m not happy. That’s not the case. When I do get those reps I look at it as an opportunity to show them why they brought me here.”
Coach Mike Tomlin said
Haskins will get the start in Carolina, but he’ll be playing with only a handful of other starters. Running back Najee Harris won’t play and the top receivers aren’t expected to play much, either.
There had been speculation leading up to the Lions game that Tomlin might play Haskins some with the starters after Roethlisberger exited the game as a way to more fairly assess the competition between Haskins and Rudolph for the No. 2 job.
As it was, he stuck with giving Rudolph the reps with the starters against the Lions and gave the reins to Haskins in the second half.
The one positive for Haskins is Carolina is expected to play its first-team defense for a while, which will at least give him the opportunity to play against a starting unit for the first time this summer. In his first three preseason appearances with the Steelers he played against secondand third-teamers from the Lions, Cowboys and Eagles.
“This is a chance for me to show what I can do,” said Haskins, who signed with the Steelers in January after two seasons in Washington.. “I feel like if I can do my job and show I can perform at a varsity level against varsity defenders and having varsity guys around me, then I’ll be more deserving of those reps.”
Haskins has been a pleasant surprise for the Steelers. The No. 15 overall pick from the 2019 draft has completed 66% of his passes with one touchdown and no interceptions. He has a 92.5 quarterback rating entering the Carolina game.
“I’ve liked how he’s worked every day,” offensive coordinator Matt
Canada said. “He’s trying to learn, the way he watches our system and what we do, I’ve been really happy with that. I think he’s making quick decisions.
“He’s moved in the right direction for the most part. I’ve enjoyed his steady progression. When you come to a new system you have to learn it all, and he’s hit that from the ground floor and has progressed in a good way.”
Rudolph did nothing to lose his job as the backup — not in the preseason games or in practices. He completed 75% of his passes with no touchdowns and no interceptions. He has received some criticism for not leading the Steelers on scoring drives the way Haskins has, but he finished the preseason with a 99.2 rating.
In a coincidental twist, Haskins’ first start with the Steelers comes against the same team he last faced as a starter. Haskins’ final start as a member of the Washington Football Team came in late December. Carolina beat Washington, 20-13, and Haskins struggled mightily before being pulled for Taylor Heinicke.
Haskins was 14 for 28 and was intercepted twice before being benched.
“I feel like that game was tough for me more than anything,” Haskins said. “The biggest thing for me going into this game is realizing and understanding that’s not who I am. How I played got into my head. I’m looking forward to showcasing the things I can do.”
In some ways, Haskins’ rocky final season with Washington prepared him for his role as a reserve with the Steelers. Haskins began the 2020 season as Washington’s starter, was benched and then fluctuated between backup and thirdstringer before getting his final opportunity against
the Panthers.
“The biggest thing I learned under the [Washington] regime was stuff happened,” he said. “I was the third-string guy and I had to be ready to come in and play. Coming into this year whether I have to suit up every game or be the clipboard guy or come in at the start game, just be prepared. That’s what I want to do. Prepare and get ready as If I’m going to play. If I get third-team reps or scoutteam reps then maximize those reps so I’m able to go in game-like situations.”