The Pittsburgh Steelers gave Dwayne Haskins a second chance in the NFL after the Washington Football Team cut him last season despite the fact that he was a first-round pick in 2019.
At least so far, Pittsburgh’s low-risk flier on Haskins looks like it could pay massive dividends. Even those who doubt him the most had to admit Haskins looked good in Thursday’s preseason game versus the Philadelphia Eagles. He led the Steelers on four scoring drives (three touchdowns and a field goal) before leaving the field.
in the battle with Mason Rudolph for the backup QB job behind Ben Roethlisberger, it’s clear that Haskins has the higher ceiling and the superior arm strength. It’s just a matter of whether he can continue being consistent and making good decisions on and off the field.
Although detractors will be skeptical of Haskins’ showing since he was playing against backups, he may have played well enough to earn a preseason start over Rudolph next week. Haskins took what the Eagles defense gave him, but made an off-schedule, 22-yard touchdown throw to Anthony Johnson that required a little improvising.
Rudolph has been in Pittsburgh for a number of years, and he just doesn’t look like a viable long-term successor to Big Ben. When the Steelers square off with the Detroit Lions next Saturday, they should really consider throwing Haskins in to start and see how he does against superior competition — and with better skill players around him, too.
After all, the whole point of signing Haskins was on the off chance he could still live up to his first-round billing and just maybe take the reins from Roethlisberger down the road.
Thursday was a small but meaningful step in Haskins earning trust from the Steelers organization. They know what they have in Rudolph. They might as well see more of what they have in Haskins.
1 backup QB has looked much better than the other
— Tone Digs (@ToneDigz) August 13, 2021
Dwayne Haskins has looked poised in these drives. Can’t be mad at Rudolph for what he had been doing, but Haskins has capitalized on his opportunities and that’s what you want from him. #Steelers
— Christopher Carter (@CarterCritiques) August 13, 2021
The biggest difference in Haskins that I see so far in the preseason vs his time in WFT, is his willingness to quickly take the layup. And it’s in taking those layups, that has allowed him better consistency going downfield.
— Emory Hunt (@FBallGameplan) August 13, 2021
Which has what been reported from practice & in games.
There’s a lot left to be decided, but this much is evident (at this point) the pace and rhythm of the offense is better with Haskins leading it than with Rudolph commanding it.
— Colin Dunlap (@colin_dunlap) August 13, 2021
I would be okay with this just for curiosity's sake.
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) August 13, 2021
Rudolph has been a three and out factory so far this preseason anyway, might as well try to figure out what you have in Haskins by increasing his opportunities. https://t.co/IZkdQRza97
Must be wild for Dwayne Haskins to be playing a preseason game for a coach who is actually open to the concept of believing in him.
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) August 13, 2021
Would have loved to see Haskins cap off that drive with a TD. Oh well, he put his best performance on the field tonight. Should make things interesting the final two preseason games. #Steelers
— Jeff Hartman (@JHartman_PIT) August 13, 2021
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