PITTSBURGH — The potential return of Russell Wilson as the starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers is becoming a topic of discussion. On Tuesday, Coach Mike Tomlin indicated that Wilson is “in consideration” to take the lead when the Steelers (4-2) face off against the New York Jets (2-4) this coming Sunday night. Wilson, a 35-year-old nine-time Pro Bowler, has been recovering from a calf injury he sustained just before the start of the season.
Tomlin acknowledged that while backup quarterback Justin Fields has performed well in Wilson’s absence and the team has seen some success, he noted that their performance has been “not to be confused with great.” Wilson had initially secured the starting position during training camp but suffered a calf injury about 72 hours before the opening matchup against Atlanta. Tomlin observed Wilson’s progress in practice last week, allowing him to be a backup for Fields during the recent game against Las Vegas, which the Steelers won 32-13. The coach hinted at the possibility of changing roles against the Jets.
“This is a competitive league, man,” Tomlin stated. “We’re trying to position ourselves to be that team. And we got a player with talent who hadn’t had an opportunity to play. So we’re going to potentially explore those things.” Fields has shown efficiency and occasional brilliance during his six-week stint as the starter, minimizing the mistakes that plagued him earlier in his career with the Bears. He has thrown just one interception in 160 attempts, but his completion rate has fallen to 57% in recent games, compared to 69% at the beginning of the season.
The Steelers currently rank 28th in the league for passing and 20th in scoring. They are benefiting from a somewhat manageable early schedule and a strong defense led by All-Pro linebacker T.J. Watt, which has kept them tied for first in the AFC North with the Baltimore Ravens. After facing the Jets this week and the Giants next, the team anticipates a tougher competition in November, making Wilson’s experience and capabilities difficult for Tomlin to overlook.
While Tomlin noted Fields’ contributions to the team, he refrained from fully committing to Fields as the starter going forward. He declined to provide details on how practice snaps will be distributed between the two quarterbacks, indicating that a decision regarding who will lead against the Jets will come later in the week. “We’re just going to roll the ball out, let both guys work and make decisions from there,” Tomlin remarked.
Fields’ adaptability has allowed the Steelers to ease Wilson back into the mix. Wilson originally injured his calf during training camp in July, and the exacerbation of that injury raised concerns about potential long-term issues. Nevertheless, Wilson has been showing improvement in practice and demonstrated that he could protect himself effectively. The next challenge will be addressing any remaining rust from his time away from the field, but Tomlin appears unconcerned about this aspect.
Regardless of who is under center, the quarterback will likely have to navigate behind the seventh different offensive line combination of the season due to injuries, including rookie center Zach Frazier’s absence with an ankle injury suffered against the Raiders. Fields’ ability to run has played a crucial role in compensating for the instability at the offensive line position, a dimension that Wilson has not utilized since his peak performance days in Seattle.
When asked how the offensive strategy might evolve should Wilson step in as the starting quarterback, Tomlin expressed curiosity, stating, “It remains to be seen. And I think that’s one of the cute things about this discussion.”
In team updates, linebacker Nick Herbig is likely to miss another game due to a hamstring injury. There is hope for the return of outside linebacker Alex Highsmith (groin), who has been sidelined since late September, and running back Cordarrelle Patterson, who has also missed the last two games with an ankle injury, might be back in action.