The last time Dwayne Haskins started an NFL game, he faced the Carolina Panthers and was pulled in the fourth quarter.
Circumstances will be similar for Haskins on Friday night. He is starting against Carolina — this time as the quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers — and he could spend much of the fourth quarter on the sideline.
The difference is, Haskins was benched for poor play in December when he faced the Panthers as a member of the Washington Football Team. This time, Haskins’ exit will be predetermined as a plan to get the former first-round draft pick his most extensive work of the preseason.
Haskins not only will make his first start of the preseason for the Steelers, he’ll be playing against much of Carolina’s starting defense. It’s a chance to play against first-team competition that Haskins has lacked in the preseason.
“I’m just interested in seeing him play more,” coach Mike Tomlin said Wednesday. “The process is fair in that everyone gets an opportunity to show their skill set, and we work hard to get to know them. He’s new to us, so the additional reps and exposure is good for him, and for us to get to know him.”
With Tomlin’s announcement that Mason Rudolph also will get the night off, any shot at Haskins earning the No. 2 job appear to be over. Haskins will be competing with Josh Dobbs for the No. 3 spot.
Haskins said he is not disappointed that Rudolph, who started the first two preseason games and is in his fourth season with the Steelers, got more work with the first-team offense in the preseason.
“You have to earn the right to have those type of reps,” Haskins said. “It’s my first year here, so any opportunity I do get I have to make the most of it, so I can get more. I don’t have an expectation that I need to have varsity reps or be with the ones and that if I don’t have it, I’ll be unhappy. I don’t feel that way at all.”
It wasn’t that way for Haskins in 2020 when he went from starter to third string to starter again only to be released the day after Washington dropped that 20-13 decision to Carolina in Week 16. Haskins threw two interceptions and turned the ball over three times in the loss, dropping his record to 1-6 as a starter last year.
“The biggest thing going into this game is realizing that’s not who I am now, and that’s not what I was trying to be when I was playing,” Haskins said. “That game, as far as how I played, it’s out of my head. I know how I want to play, and I’m looking forward to it because of how I’m feeling since the last time. I’m looking forward to showcasing and doing the things I know I’m talented enough to do.”
In the preseason opener, Haskins led the Steelers to two second-half scoring drives. He guided the Steelers to 24 points the following week against Philadelphia before playing the fourth quarter last week against Detroit. He will be the only Steelers quarterback to play in all four preseason contests, and he enters the game having completed 28 of 42 passes for 271 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.
“The way he’s trying to watch our system, watch what we do, I’ve been really happy with that,” offensive coordinator Matt Canada said. “I think he’s making quick decisions. He’s improved. Camp is a fun time. You have a good day, you have an average day. I think every day he’s moved in the right direction for the most part, and I’ve enjoyed his steady progress.”
Haskins was looking for a fresh start when he joined the Steelers in January, and he thinks Tomlin and Canada have given him the tools necessary to succeed.
“Coach Tomlin does a great job of giving a scouting report of who you are playing that week. I’ve never really had that before,” he said. “As far as being able to know (about) the senior analysis coach, who is the defensive coordinator, the DB coach, what they like to do, what techniques do the corners play.
“We kick that off before we come into practice that week. It’s cool to be able to have a great jump start as far as what you’re looking at and what you’re seeing. I feel like that prepares me to go in and play against Carolina.”
Barring injury, opportunities to play will be scarce once the regular season begins. That goes for practice as well as games since the No. 3 quarterback gets the fewest snaps and typically works with the scout team.
“The biggest thing I learned in the previous regime was that stuff happened,” Haskins said. “I was the third-string guy, then I had 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 after the start of a game, I’ll prepare as if I’m playing.”
Joe Rutter is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Joe by email at [email protected] or via Twitter .
