Throughout the offseason, minicamps, and training camp, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields expressed his desire to prove he deserves to be the starter. With Russell Wilson sidelined due to injury, Fields’ chance has arrived. While his performance in the Steelers’ 18-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons last Sunday wasn’t stellar, it also wasn’t poor. Fields led the team into scoring range seven times and, importantly, didn’t commit any turnovers.
During a Wednesday interview on Pittsburgh’s 93.7 The Fan, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio shed light on head coach Mike Tomlin’s current stance regarding the quarterback situation. According to Florio, Tomlin isn’t set on Russell Wilson reclaiming the starting role once he’s healthy.
“I think this is a great opportunity for the Steelers to see what Fields can do,” Florio said. “If he performs well, you stick with him. If not, it’s not a tough decision to go back to Wilson when he’s ready.”
This week, the Steelers travel to Denver to face a rebuilding Broncos squad. If Fields can guide the offense to 2-3 touchdowns and secure a convincing win, his claim to the starting job might become undeniable, even if Wilson returns to full health.
The former No. 11 overall pick brings a dynamic element to the Steelers’ offense that could align more with what Tomlin envisions for the team. “I think they see Fields as the better long-term solution,” Florio added. “He’s more than a decade younger than Wilson and fits the offensive system better. There are things to work on, like improving his accuracy, but the potential is there.”
Florio believes the Steelers should ride Fields’ momentum for as long as possible, only turning back to Wilson if necessary. If Fields can consistently produce 20-24 points per game, coupled with the Steelers’ strong defense, the team could find itself starting 4-0 and sitting at 7-3 or better through the first 10 games of the season.
At that point, Tomlin may have no choice but to stick with Fields. Benching him could disrupt team chemistry and morale, creating unnecessary tension in the locker room.
The Steelers will face the Broncos this Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET at Empower Field at Mile High, with Fields set to take the reins once again.
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