The Pittsburgh Steelers plan to have quarterback Justin Fields start not only in Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos but in the home opener against the Los Angeles Chargers, too, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Russell Wilson continues to work his way back after aggravating his right calf injury during last Thursday’s practice.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said Wilson is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game, and added that if his chances of playing are questionable, his chances of starting are less so.
Wilson said on Thursday that he’s not ready to play just yet.
“The first part is the will, I’ve got the will,” he said. “The second part is you’ve got to be able to physically, do pretty much everything. I’m getting there. I also have to listen to the doctors and hear what they have to say and all that. At the end of the day, it’s a team effort trying to figure out what’s the best thing. I’m doing everything I can to go, that’s for sure.”
Fields completed 17 of 23 passes (73.9%) for 156 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions, and a quarterback rating of 91.9 in Sunday’s 18-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons. He also rushed for 57 yards on 14 attempts (4.1 average). Fields had an up-and-down performance, but he completed two deep passes to George Pickens (a 33-yarder and a 40-yarder) that resulted in two Chris Boswell field goals.
Tomlin said “there was a lot of good” from Fields’ in his first start as the Steelers quarterback.
If Fields plays well in the next two games and the Steelers start 3-0, would Tomlin go back to Wilson? Depending on how things unfold, there could be a potential quarterback controversy. Fields is not worried about being the starter, however. He just wants to win.
“I have a job and that’s to lead us to a win each and every week,” Fields said on Thursday. “We can have this debate on ‘who’s the starter, who’s not the starter.’ My main job is to go in there and go win the game. As long as I do that, I feel good.”
Wilson is not in jeopardy of losing his starting spot unless Fields has an earth-shattering performance against Denver, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Fields might get the home opener to state his case, too.
“Even though Fields is expected to start for the Steelers in Denver, the belief is that Wilson will get the job once he returns from his calf injury,” Jeremy Fowler of ESPN wrote. “Pittsburgh believes Wilson’s command of the offense is stronger, and it seems like only an explosive performance from Fields can change the trajectory.”
Alan Saunders contributed reporting from Pittsburgh.