Russell Wilson will make his regular season Steelers debut tonight, having fully recovered from his calf injury. The move to place him atop the quarterback depth chart came after Justin Fields helped guide the team to a 4-2 record, and it does not appear to have been the preference of some staff members. 
When speaking with Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer, head coach Mike Tomlin noted he acted alone in tapping Wilson as Pittsburgh’s starter (video link). QB decisions are, of course, the purview of a head coach but they come amongst consultation with other members of the offensive coaching staff. Tomlin acknowledged he will solely bear the responsibility of the Wilson decision should it not work out, an indication of the support Fields has in the organization.
The former Bears first-rounder received extra first-team reps in training camp once Wilson was injured, and as the only healthy member of the pair in September he did not face competition for the starting gig. Wilson returned to practice recently, and after a full week handling reps with the first-team offense signs pointed to him getting the nod. Attached to a one-year deal, Wilson entered the offseason atop the depth chart but Fields’ performances in camp and the preseason earned him favor amongst Pittsburgh’s decision-makers.
Indeed, a report from earlier this month noted Fields did not appear to be in immediate danger of losing his starting gig. The 25-year-old helped guide Pittsburgh to a strong showing in the running game during his time at the helm, but the team entered Week 7 ranked just 28th in passing production and 20th overall in scoring. Wilson will be tasked with improving on those totals, although the door is open to Fields seeing some playing time in spite of his demotion.
The Steelers will host the Jets to close out Sunday’s action, and one of the team’s key storylines will be Wilson’s play during his first contest since his ill-fated Broncos tenure came to a close. If the former Seahawks Super Bowl winner struggles, calls from inside and outside the building will no doubt grow for Tomlin to reverse his decision.
I’ve stated before how much I hate bloated coaching staffs and front office staffs. You’re not going to succeed having your organization run like a bureaucracy….even Belichick knew that much.
If it turns out as badly as I expect it to, I’m just glad I get to see it tonight.
What now?
Well it started out being what I suspected but then evolved into which QB looked the oldest and most pathetic and that quickly turned into Rodgers. The fact that the Jets supposed stellar pass rush couldn’t get the job done either was just icing on the cake. I could only stand watching the first half and watched the baseball game which turned into unwatchable also. I wouldn’t get too terribly excited if I was a Steeler fan just yet until they run into a stellar pass rush team but I get the temporary optimism. If watching Wilson throw balls straight up into heavens and see who comes down with it excites you then have a ball. But that’s not going to work against a good defensive team. Plus by the end of the first half the Jets were on DB number 8 due to injuries. Anyway glad I don’t have to watch anymore. LOL
beauocracies are proven to be scattered and inefficient
Geez, the mental gymnastics you did to turn your giant L into an “actually it was a W if you think about it,” was heroic.
This aged well.
Going to likely be a crap game with the orange clown in attendance, having to listen to Collinsworth gush about Rodgers and Wilson probably getting sacked repeatedly. Too bad Tomlin’s job isn’t riding on this game. It’s this kind of bad coaching that shoots this team in the foot.
I agree with you mad..I’ve said it before Tomlin has too much power…how he got that power is beyond me. He’s hadn’t done anything since 2010, and he lost that Superbowl.
He’s an arrogant man who won’t admit when he’s wrong
Just like the orange clown that you mentioned.
I thought this site was supposed to keep comments away from politics? Especially when the comment is CLEARLY favoring the most unqualified, unprepared, and unintelligent candidate in like forever.
lol, you’re clearly referring to said orange one
More clearly… you cannot read plain English.
He turned it around on you, but as I would suspect, you didn’t pick it up. He read it clearly, you just have blinders on.
Your response, 16, is reflective that your moniker is your age
Let’s be real, Fields is not a QB that will lead a team to the Super Bowl. Russ has done that twice! Tomlin wants to see what Russ has left.
the passing game was much improved under Russ
At some point, doesn’t ownership want more than to be above 500 and get beat in the 1st round of the playoffs?
Actually as long as fans fill the stadium ‘owners’ are benefiting from their business investment.
I get that. Plenty of sub-500 teams always have fans in the stadium. There’s no way I’m spending $400+ on tickets, beers, and food to watch half the league play awful football.
My last attendance at NFL game was in the King Dome.
My allegiance, per se, has been AFC – specifically West (except Denver) since the merger. So Seattle was dropped and I’ve aligned with a team that is the epitome of an ‘injury report’.
KC / Raiders used to be vigorous games worthy of a $5 bet.
Every year Steelers fans have a chance. Other than the Patriots until recently, who can/could say that?
More clearly YOU can’t reason anything you read. I and the other comment does not favor the orange hemoglobin.
Fans booing Wilson….Wilson looks terrible..how long will Tomlin let this facade go on?
Oops.
that comment did not age well.
Some people just want Russell to fail. It’s weird.
I’m not a Pittsburgh fan. But is the end of the third quarter, and it’s looking like the right choice
Russ played a good game tonight.
But ultimately the issue with Russ is him playing like that consistently.
Time will tell. Still too early to say if it’s the right call or not.
Well I hope I eat crow for the rest of the year. He looked good. Pickens and Harris looked good. Hopefully Tomlin made the right decision.
Being a Bears fan I never knocked Fields physical skills. I always questioned his leadership, his game attitude and never seemed to have players fired up around him. I called him a better athletic Tim Tebow less the desire. If Tomlin can keep him focused as a change of pace QB, the Steelers will be in the hunt at the end.
The Jets defense simply caved in. Injuries or not, they cant stop the run like they should. Where did their offense go in the second half?