Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin by no means outright named a beginning quarterback for Sunday in his weekly press convention, however did say Russell Wilson was “in consideration” to begin and {that a} determination would come later within the week. Nevertheless, NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero reported that Wilson, who Tomlin did affirm would obtain some first-team snaps, is “in-line” to begin with the group giving him first-team reps, and the overall sense popping out of the press convention was that Wilson would get the nod for the Steelers in Week 7 towards the New York Jets.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano stays skeptical that would be the case although, and wrote in a weekly information and notes column he believes that Justin Fields nonetheless has an opportunity to begin his seventh recreation of the season towards the New York Jets.
“I’m a bit bit skeptical, given every part I’ve heard over the previous month and a half about how the workers there’s pleased with Fields’ progress and the way in which he has grown because the season’s gone alongside. He has executed their recreation plans, averted turnovers and received video games. It’s clear he nonetheless wants refining as a thrower, and that could be why Tomlin harbors some curiosity about what the offense would seem like with Wilson in there. However something Wilson would possibly probably have the ability to add along with his arm would come at the price of Fields’ legs, which have been a weapon for the Steelers within the run recreation.”
Graziano mentioned if Wilson begins, the Steelers will possible have performs for Fields.
“Even when Wilson begins, I’m prepared to wager the Steelers have a package deal of performs for Fields, as was their Week 1 plan earlier than Wilson received damage. We’ll see how the week goes, and I stands out as the final one to leap on the prepare right here, however I nonetheless assume there’s a nonzero probability that is Fields’ job and he doesn’t give it again.”
The concept Pittsburgh may play each Fields and Wilson isn’t outlandish given the concept earlier than the season was that Fields would have a package deal, and Tomlin mentioned there’s a situation the place each can play. Fields has executed his job nicely, and his legs have been a significant asset to this point, particularly with Pittsburgh’s offensive line banged up and being inconsistent at instances. Tomlin admitted that Wilson doesn’t have the identical mobility as Fields, and that it may probably change Pittsburgh’s offense.
But it surely’s not as if Fields has been flawless, and now’s a wise time to make the change. Fields has struggled a bit the final two weeks along with his accuracy and Wilson can actually elevate Pittsburgh’s ceiling as a thrower. With two video games earlier than the bye week, the Steelers can consider in the event that they assume Wilson is really an improve on the place, and if the group decides they like what Fields supplied, they’ll return to him after the bye week.
Whereas flip-flopping quarterbacks actually isn’t very best, and I’m positive if Tomlin does begin Wilson this week then the hope is that he holds the job for the rest of the season. However the actuality is that the timing permits the Steelers to return to Fields if he does wrestle pretty seamlessly. I might agree that persevering with to begin Fields makes a number of sense, but it surely’s clear the Steelers wish to see what they’ve in Wilson. In spite of everything, the unique plan once they signed him was for him to be the starter and Kenny Pickett the backup, and Fields wasn’t within the playing cards at that time.
It’s going to be an fascinating week as Tomlin makes the ultimate determination on who will begin, and an fascinating two weeks to see if the Steelers can maintain enterprise earlier than their bye week.