PITTSBURGH — Mike Tomlin may follow the new hand at quarterback even when Russell Wilson is again from his calf harm, however the Steelers coach mentioned on Tuesday that he isn’t but on the level of creating that call.
“There is a potential for that, however we’re not there, as I stand right here as we speak,” Tomlin mentioned when requested if Justin Fields’ efficiency via 4 video games is making Wilson’s well being immaterial to the beginning quarterback choice.
Tomlin additionally mentioned Fields’ efficiency might ultimately affect the Steelers’ method to bringing Wilson again from harm.
“It doubtlessly might, but it surely has not up to now,” Tomlin mentioned. “The guiding issue for us at this level is the quantity of ball that we’ve in entrance of us, how early we’re on this course of. That is in all probability been one of many vital variables by way of our method to his rehabilitation.”
Late final season, Tomlin rode the new hand in quarterback Mason Rudolph, beginning him in a collection of must-win video games and within the wild-card sport towards the Buffalo Payments — even after former first-round decide Kenny Pickett was cleared to play following surgical procedure for a excessive ankle sprain. Requested if there was something Fields might do to show he ought to preserve beginning, Tomlin was blunt.
“Play effectively, win,” Tomlin mentioned. “That is our enterprise.”
Although Tomlin mentioned he anticipated Wilson to ramp up his apply participation this week, the coach mentioned he is nonetheless getting ready for Fields to make his fifth begin Sunday towards the Dallas Cowboys.
In discussing different accidents, Tomlin dominated out exterior linebacker Alex Highsmith and guard James Daniels, whereas letting apply participation dictate sport availability for injured gamers Jaylen Warren (knee), MyCole Pruitt (knee), Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle), Nick Herbig (ankle), Keeanu Benton (ankle) and Isaac Seumalo (pec).
“It looks as if [Wilson] is in a spot the place his participation goes to select up some by way of a apply setting, a stay pocket if you’ll,” Tomlin mentioned. “We cannot draw too many conclusions, however we’ll simply begin that course of, and we’ll comb via that day-to-day, consider his skill to maneuver and performance and shield himself and clearly consider his stage of productiveness. We’ll let that be our information by way of whether or not we get into severe consideration as we push ahead towards sport time this week.
“In a variety of methods, I am taking the identical posture that I’ve taken in current weeks, however I am acknowledging that he is doing extra work as we speak than he did final Tuesday.”
Wilson has been a restricted participant in every apply and inactive every sport since aggravating his coaching camp calf harm on Sept. 5.
With Wilson sidelined, Tomlin and Fields have begun constructing the inspiration of a relationship that Tomlin mentioned is finest shaped in opposed, in-game conditions. The coach was complementary of Fields’ resolve within the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 27-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
“We had been down a number of scores within the fourth quarter, man, however I did not really feel any blink,” Tomlin mentioned. “Specifically, I did not really feel any blink in Justin. We have talked about his regular demeanor in current weeks. By way of the issues that I’ve grown to know and perceive about him, I believe it is actually on show in moments like that. … You actually get a possibility to develop a relationship within the midst of adversity and competitors.
“I am not making an attempt to microwave our relationship, if you’ll. And so being in circumstances, it is a possibility for him to get to know me, me to get to know him and to battle and battle collectively, however not just for him however a variety of new guys.
Fields accounted for 3 second-half touchdowns, bouncing again from a sack, fumble and 20-yard loss on third down within the third quarter when he tried to elude stress and slipped and fell.
Finishing 22 of 34 makes an attempt for 312 yards, Fields turned the primary participant in Steelers historical past with 300 passing yards, 50 speeding yards and a pair of speeding touchdowns in a sport, per ESPN Analysis.
“Whenever you’re in these moments and also you get a possibility to point out who you might be in these moments, there’s much less hypothesis,” Tomlin mentioned of what he has discovered about Fields. “And so some issues that I used to be speculating about considerably final week about his regular demeanor … simply acquired solidified and verified with the challenges that we confronted [vs. the Colts].”
