Russell Wilson dressed because the Pittsburgh Steelers’ emergency third quarterback behind Justin Fields in his Black and Gold debut. The crew introduced his beginning standing as a game-time resolution, although many query that. Head coach Mike Tomlin didn’t assist dispel that notion by downplaying his availability potential for this week.
That’s all to the nice, Mike Florio believes, for the Steelers and for his or her long-term future. Whereas they signed Russell Wilson as a starter, in addition they traded for Justin Fields by potential starter eyes. The best way accidents are dictating the season offers them with an fascinating view they wouldn’t have had in any other case.
“I believe it is a good alternative for the Steelers to let [Justin] Fields strive it out”, Florio stated on 93.7 The Fan yesterday. “If it really works, you simply hold going. If it doesn’t, it’s not such as you benched Fields: Russell Wilson’s wholesome”.
Fields began the season opener for the Steelers, producing meager statistics, however a profitable efficiency. He went 17-for-23 passing for 156 yards with no touchdowns and no interception, dashing for 57 on 14 makes an attempt. To the very best of my data, that’s the most dashing makes an attempt by a Steelers beginning quarterback in trendy historical past. And that presents a really completely different dynamic from Russell Wilson.
“This is a chance for the Steelers to have it each methods”, Florio stated of Wilson’s harm. “I believe they do imagine Fields is the higher possibility long-term. He’s greater than a decade youthful. He matches what they’re attempting to do offensively higher. They simply must work on some stuff, like, you realize, throwing the ball precisely on a constant foundation”.
“I believe it’s labored out completely for the Steelers to journey Justin Fields so long as they’ll, [and] flip again to Russell Wilson if it’s not working”.
Florio is correct in a single very apparent sense, in that Wilson’s harm provides the Steelers ample alternative to judge Fields. However the Steelers weren’t planning on evaluating Fields in-season, even when they received’t object a lot throughout wins.
So long as they hold profitable, whether or not with Russell Wilson or Justin Fields, I’m unsure it issues proper now. Clearly, Fields has a for much longer shelf life than Wilson as a result of he’s youthful, however is he higher now?
Whereas the Steelers must look to the longer term, in addition they have to think about their wants for the 2024 season. Justin Fields helped them win within the opener, however the Atlanta Falcons shall be one in all their simpler opponents. Russell Wilson will definitely convey issues to the desk that Fields can’t do, or can’t do persistently.
But when the Steelers discover that they’ll win with Fields, that modifications the panorama totally. Let’s say Wilson’s calf harm lingers for 5 extra weeks. The Steelers are 5-1 by that time and Fields is enjoying properly, making his throws and working throughout folks. At that time, why would you make a change?
After all, that state of affairs rests upon a whole lot of “ifs”, and doubtless unlikely ones. The Steelers are in all probability not beginning 5-1, and Fields in all probability isn’t going to show right into a constant passer. However what would Wilson look coming from six weeks of the bench?
