PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing quarterback Justin Fields for his fourth consecutive start, a decision coach Mike Tomlin said is based mostly on Russell Wilson’s ongoing calf injury.
Tomlin said he met with Wilson and the team’s medical staff Tuesday morning. The expectation is that the veteran QB will be a limited participant in practice, as he has been through the first three weeks of the season.
Wilson has dressed for the first three games as the emergency third quarterback. His level of participation throughout the week will determine if the Steelers keep the same approach this week in Indianapolis.
“Still very much in the same place with Russ this week as we were last week,” Tomlin said. “I want Justin singularly focused on starting for us and doing what’s required to be ready to do that.”
Through three games, Fields has completed 73.3 percent of his passes for 418 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He’s also added an explosive element on the ground, rushing for 90 yards on 28 attempts with one touchdown. More importantly, he’s provided a steady hand that’s allowed Pittsburgh to lean on its defense and jump out to a 3-0 record.
At some point, Tomlin will have to decide which quarterback will be his starter in the long term. For now, Tomlin said Wilson’s not healthy enough to force him to pick a lane just yet.
For what it’s worth, Wilson is still officially listed as QB1 and Fields is the backup on the depth chart. Asked why he hasn’t changed the pecking order, Tomlin said “it’s not necessary as we sit here right now.”
“When Russ gets to an appropriate point of health and we have a decision to make, I’ll make it and I’ll announce it and I’ll be really transparent about it,” Tomlin said. “But until then, I don’t care how many ways you guys ask me, I’ve got no intentions of making a decision that’s unnecessary at this juncture.”
The Steelers entered this season with the plan of starting Wilson, but also creating a special package to feature Fields. However, when Wilson aggravated a training camp calf injury on Sept. 5, the Thursday before the season opener in Atlanta, Pittsburgh had to pivot.
In the first two games of the season, the Steelers were careful not to put too much on Fields’ shoulders. Under first-year offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, the Steelers had more rushing attempts than any team in the league through the first two weeks. Meanwhile, Fields attempted more than 72 percent of his passes outside the numbers, adding the occasional timely deep shot to add an explosive element.
With the NFL’s best-scoring defense playing dominant football on the other side of the ball, that somewhat conservative approach was enough for the Steelers to win their first two games.
However, in the third game of the season against the Los Angeles Chargers, the Steelers were forced to open up the playbook. Against a stingy Los Angeles defense that entered Sunday allowing a league-best 6 1/2 points per game, Fields produced his best passing performance as a Steeler. He completed 25 of 32 passes for 245 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He added six rushing attempts for six yards and a touchdown on the ground.
“No question Justin has played well, and that’s exciting for him and for us,” Tomlin said. “But I’m not surprised by that.”
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(Photo: Brandon Sloter / Getty Images)
