PITTSBURGH — With an aggravated calf harm persevering with to restrict Russell Wilson, the Steelers are making ready for quarterback Justin Fields to start out in opposition to the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
“As I sit right here immediately, we’re making ready as if Justin goes to be our quarterback,” coach Mike Tomlin mentioned Tuesday. “I believe that is the suitable method to do it. Hypothesis is a waste of time. Russell’s harm. He’s not accessible to us. And so, as you guys know, as a normal observe, I focus my power on these which might be accessible and their readiness.”
Wilson won’t take part totally in Wednesday’s observe, Tomlin added, and the group will meet with docs afterward to find out a plan for his inclusion the remainder of the week. Although Tomlin sometimes does not use gamers on Sundays if they do not observe on Fridays, he allowed there’s some leeway in availability for veterans resembling Wilson.
“Younger gamers must observe on Friday,” Tomlin mentioned. “The older you’re, the much less vital that’s. I deal with everyone honest. I do not deal with everyone the identical.”
Requested particularly whether or not Wilson would begin Sunday if he is wholesome, Tomlin declined to offer a definitive reply.
“That is an enormous if,” Tomlin mentioned. “I am not into the hypotheticals. As I discussed, proper now, he is not wholesome. And so my time and a spotlight is specializing in the readiness of Justin.”
Wilson was nonetheless listed because the beginning quarterback forward of Fields on the group’s up to date depth chart. Requested particularly if Wilson was nonetheless the beginning quarterback when wholesome, Tomlin downplayed the query.
“I am not going to appease you with hypothetical situations,” Tomlin mentioned. “It’s my normal observe to not. … So why begin immediately? As a result of it is the quarterback place or as a result of it is a nationwide story? I’m unmoved by a few of these narratives, to be fairly sincere with you.
“… When persons are considerably restricted, I say we’ll push by our work week. We’ll let their participation be our information when it comes to whether or not we embody ’em after which the standard of that participation. This state of affairs is not any completely different for me. … Our energies and a spotlight are on these which might be accessible and are scheduled to play. They’re deserving of that. When these that aren’t are wholesome, we’ll ponder it at the moment.”
Although his first snap was a fumbled change with rookie middle Zach Frazier, Fields performed turnover-free soccer in his first regular-season begin as a Steeler, finishing 17 of 23 makes an attempt for 156 yards with two sacks and speeding 14 instances for 57 yards within the win over the Atlanta Falcons.
“He settled in as the sport progressed,” Tomlin mentioned. “I assumed he had clear eyes and weighty moments. I assumed he was a superb communicator in a few of these moments the place we had some dialogue. … It is simply actually good issues to construct upon.”
Wilson examined out his calf by a sequence of throws greater than two and a half hours earlier than Sunday’s sport in Atlanta earlier than telling Fields he would begin. Wilson was then inactive and served because the emergency third quarterback.
Wilson spent two seasons with the Broncos earlier than he was launched and signed with the Steelers, however his expertise with Denver is not essentially an added asset for the Steelers, particularly if he is inactive for the second week in a row.
“Generally that is overblown,” Tomlin mentioned. “If he is on the sideline, he is not making performs. The blokes on the sector are the blokes that received to make the performs and that is typically our mentality. We’re not resistant to assist, however we aren’t going to place it on a pedestal and make it seem like greater than what it’s.”
