Mike Tomlin hasn’t made it official, but all signs point to Russell Wilson taking over as Steelers QB1 again this week despite a great play from Justin Fields. Wilson won the battle for starting quarterback, and what he showed seemed to be enough to give Tomlin confidence as the starter. However, nothing has been officially announced yet, and Tomlin also said that both QBs could play in Week 7.
“Certainly,” Tomlin said at Tuesday’s press conference. via the team’s YouTube channel. “There could have been a scenario where that happened last week.”
It would certainly be a big decision for Tomlin, although it could mean there’s a package for Fields if he doesn’t start Sunday night against the visiting New York Jets. That seemed to be the Steelers’ original plan before Wilson got injured. They could employ that strategy again, but Fields will likely have a larger role given what he showed in the first six games of the season.
However, if Tomlin indicates the Steelers will go with a two-quarter back system, things change completely. There are very few examples of that strategy being successful in the NFL. The Baltimore Ravens did something similar with Joe Flacco and Lamar Jackson, but it still wasn’t a true rotation. Jackson still had a gadget role.
It’s also interesting that Tomlin said he could have used Wilson and Fields against the Las Vegas Raiders. We don’t have enough information to say for sure what triggered that, but perhaps if the offense continued to struggle, Wilson could have been inserted into the rotation. The Steelers did something similar earlier this year with multiple players on the offensive line.
Fields was very effective in the red zone, so he could probably get more work there. His rushing ability seems to have caught Tomlin’s attention. Prior to Week 6, he was the only Steeler to score a rushing touchdown. That required gears turning in the heads of Tomlin and OC Arthur Smith.
In the same press conference, Tomlin also said that if Wilson is the starter, that doesn’t necessarily mean he has anything negative to say about Fields.
“In some cases, it doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with anything.” [Fields] Did you do it or not? [Fields] was an asset to us,” he said. “For example, in last week’s game, his ability to utilize his legs intentionally and ad lib was a key factor in that game. He rushed for over 50 yards and had two touchdowns. We are grateful for that.”
Tomlin once again highlights Fields’ incredible rushing talent. That could give a hint as to what Wilson’s role would be if he were the starter. Although he has been protecting the ball well, he is becoming increasingly wobbly as a passer. This doesn’t seem like the final nail in his coffin. Instead, it seems like the Steelers just want to see what Wilson has to offer.
Tomlin also spoke about how much he appreciates the demeanor of both Wilson and Fields.
“I love their work ethic. Throughout this process, both of them have been highly professional, competitive, collaborative and top quality personnel.”
This is consistent with what Tomlin has said about both men since they were acquired. They have different leadership styles, but that doesn’t make them bad leaders. Teammates and coaches have nothing but good things to say about both of them as people. Throughout the tournament, both Fields and Wilson had great positive attitudes.
He will still see playing time on the field. If he makes a good impression in the moment and Wilson struggles, he could always get another chance as QB1. But his story isn’t over yet. The Steelers have a series of prime-time games coming up, and he could use this as motivation to show everyone he can still be a good quarterback. He’s excelled as a pro so far, so I hope he accepts whatever role Tomlin gives him.
