Although Russell Wilson was named the Steelers’ starting quarterback at the end of August, it will be Justin Fields under center for the club’s Week 1 contest against the Falcons today. NFL insider Jordan Schultz was first to report that Wilson’s calf strain would keep him on the sidelines and would open the door for Fields to start.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter had previously noted that Wilson told the team he could play, but team doctors were more cautious than the accomplished signal-caller. ESPN’s Brooke Pryor suggested that the state of Pittsburgh’s offensive line might have also factored into the decision, as the unit struggled in the preseason and is dealing with the absence of LG Isaac Seumalo. Wilson’s mobility is limited by his calf injury, and combined with a questionable offensive front, that could have posed a major concern.
Wilson has been battling a balky calf since the start of training camp, which allowed Fields to get plenty of work with the first team during the summer. Fields gained support in the organization with his performance in practice and the preseason, and he closed the gap on his veteran competition, who was long said to be in “pole position” for the starting gig. Ultimately, head coach Mike Tomlin elected to go with Wilson’s more experienced hand, though Fields will now have a chance to seize the job.
Of course, Fields’ performance today and Wilson’s health status will go a long way towards determing their immediate futures. And, since both players are on low-cost deals that expire at season’s end, and since the team is not deviating from its policy of not negotiating extensions in-season, their long-term earning power also hangs in the balance. Fields, 25, is 10 years younger than Wilson and has a longtime fan in Tomlin, and after he failed to develop into the franchise quarterback the Bears envisioned when they made him the No. 11 overall pick of the 2021 draft, he has a second bite at the apple in Pittsburgh.
Wilson is the emergency third QB for the Atlanta contest, meaning he can only enter the game if Fields and backup Kyle Allen sustain injuries.
Steelers inactives vs. Chicago have Wilson as the emergency QB3.
That’s OK. Pickett was pretty much inactive for most games he played in last season.
*rimshot*
Love this. Let’s see what the young guy with more potential can do before seeing if Wilson has anything left.
He can’t do anything; hence he was traded for a 6th-round pick.
He just got three yards on a fumble…. baby steps!
Hammer the over on turnovers.
Hey! it’s the Steelers…so you just knew there would be an immaculate deception.
Let Russ cook!
U-G-L-Y we ain’t got no alibi – we ugly.
A win is a win.
Was Fields good? No. Was he good enough? Yes. Would I leave Fields him and let him cook?
Absolutely.
When they let him cut loose on the PA pass he looked really good. The Pitt coaches tried to make him look bad not kicking the fg to go up 18-10 the first time. It made no sense to go for it at 15-10 on a chippy fg.
I agree with you on not kicking the FG. It would have put them up by 8. Luckily the defense held and the Steelers got another FG. Another Tomlin mistake.
They’ll let Wilson start in Denver for the sake of his ego, they’ll lose and they’ll miss the playoffs by one game.
And Wilson will still be hurt and/or inffective enough that CHI will still get that 4th round pick.
Just let the young guy who has upside and played well keep going, FFS.