Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin named Russell Wilson the beginning quarterback after which began Justin Fields for 2 weeks. He very a lot seems prone to begin a 3rd week and past, although for now that’s due to damage.
Wilson injured his calf on the very first day of coaching camp and hasn’t been one hundred pc since. He aggravated the damage shortly earlier than the beginning of the common season, forcing the Steelers to pivot to Fields. But when they hold successful with Fields, they may simply follow that after Wilson is wholesome.
Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Publish-Gazette couldn’t assist questioning if that’s the future Tomlin is setting himself up for. Referring to press convention feedback on Tuesday, he advised that Tomlin sounded a special tone.
“He mentioned it was debatable similar to it was earlier than the primary recreation of the season”, Fittipaldo mentioned on 93.7 The Fan on Thursday, referring to the Steelers’ quarterback pecking order between Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. “And I don’t ever keep in mind him saying that the competitors was debatable when he named the starter. He sort of mentioned it was shut and so they’re going with Russell due to his expertise”.
Tomlin didn’t, in fact, say something in regards to the standing of Wilson and Fields being debatable when naming the starter. Maybe he misspoke and meant to say initially of Week 2, after Wilson was already injured once more. Or maybe he was attempting to rewrite historical past a bit to make the long run simpler.
“Once I heard that reply, I type of thought to myself, ‘Okay, possibly he’s laying the groundwork, that possibly he’s attempting to have a comfortable touchdown there if there’s any sort of controversy’”, Fittipaldo mentioned, which means persevering with with Justin Fields as soon as Russell Wilson is wholesome. “I nonetheless don’t suppose we’re there. I nonetheless suppose Justin most likely has to maintain on successful and persevering with to play nicely for that to be a dialog. However by two video games, he’s finished a reasonably good job”.
All people has an opinion in regards to the Steelers’ quarterback state of affairs, in fact, with many siding with Justin Fields over Russell Wilson. That now consists of former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Others imagine that Fields nonetheless has extra to show, although, maybe not far more.
Via two video games, Fields is 30-of-43 passing for 273 yards with one landing and 0 interceptions. He additionally has 84 dashing yards on 22 makes an attempt. Whereas he has had some snap-exchange points, by and enormous he has performed good soccer. The scoreboard in that regard is much less reflective of that than his document.
Tomlin did say on the finish of August when he named Russell Wilson the starter that the choice was “troublesome in a constructive means”, clearly giving credit score to Justin Fields. However at no level has he ever framed issues as debatable. Except he meant to check with the previous week or two after Fields had already began, I can’t blame Fittipaldo and others for elevating an eyebrow at that individual framing.