The Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback situation has been a topic of discussion for weeks, and it seems that a decision has been made regarding Russell Wilson and Justin Fields.
According to recent developments, Wilson is expected to take over as the starting quarterback, while Fields will likely serve as his backup. This decision comes after Fields struggled in his fifth start as a Steeler, completing 15-of-27 passes for 131 yards with two touchdowns in a 20-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
As for Fields, he knows full well that Sunday’s performance just was not enough. “We just missed shots and shot ourselves in the foot again,” Fields told reporters, via the Steelers’ official website. “So I don’t think we are one of those teams looking for identity. I think we know who we are. We’re a team that predicates on running the football and staying on schedule in first and second down and then executing on third down, but we just didn’t get the job done.”
Pittsburgh’s biggest plays on offense were a 28-yard pass from Fields to George Pickens and a 20-yard screen to running back Najee Harris. Outside of that, Fields continued to struggle getting the ball down the field. It’s been a continued issue for the former Ohio State star since Chicago made him the No. 11 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
From a broader perspective, down and distance played a role in Pittsburgh’s shortcomings on offense Sunday night. It converted on just 3-of-12 third-down opportunities while averaging a mere 4.0 yards per play. That’s just not going to cut it in today’s NFL.
This is where Wilson’s likely return comes into play. His veteran experience would change the dynamics when it comes to pre-snap penalties, working the down and distance issues and finding better opportunities on third down.
Pundits can put most of the blame on Fields for Pittsburgh’s performance Sunday night. He’s the quarterback. It comes with the job title. However, there is a lot more in play here. This offense lacks elite skill-position talent. And when someone like the aforementioned Pickens disengages during a game, that’s magnified further. The young wide receiver was benched at times Sunday night, which is a clear indication something is just not right on that front.
“ You know, we just wanted to kind of minimize his reps in an effort to get more productivity,” Tomlin said of Pickens after the loss.
Will things magically change should Tomlin opt to start Wilson over Fields in Week 6? The indicators above seem to paint a skeptical picture in that regard. Wilson came to Pittsburgh after he was benched late last season in Denver. He has not looked like a starter-caliber quarterback after departing Seattle following 10 brilliant seasons in the Pacific Northwest.
During that two-year run with the Broncos, he put up an 11-19 record with 42 touchdown passes in 30 games. For the Steelers, it’s going to be all about whether they believe playoff contention is the name of the game moving forward. If so, starting a more seasoned Wilson makes sense. If not, going the youth route with the 25-year-old Fields should be in the cards.
For now, it seems that the Steelers have made their decision, and Wilson will be the starting quarterback moving forward.
