Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has admitted that he still hasn’t decided who the team’s starting quarterback will be for Week 1.
Russell Wilson was the starter in preseason, but Tomlin said after Saturday’s loss to the Lions that he will take more time to decide between him and Justin Fields, both of whom transferred to Pittsburgh this offseason.
“We’ll make a decision at the end of our work week,” Tomlin said via ESPN‘We have three days of Steelers vs. Steelers work next week, so why not do it then?
“It minimizes the Steelers-versus-Steelers work if we start making decisions before that’s done. We have plenty of time to get ready for Atlanta and make decisions or announcements regarding divisional labor or pecking orders and things like that, so we do it toward the end of the work week.”
Wilson, who has attempted just 12 passes this season, had one series against Detroit (which resulted in a touchdown) before leaving the game.
Russell Wilson (left) and Justin Fields compete to become the Steelers’ starting quarterback
But Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin has admitted he hasn’t made a final decision on his passer
Fields played three series and also led a scoring drive. He completed 19 of 27 passes in this preseason game, a longer play than Wilson.
It likely bodes well for Wilson’s chances of earning the starting job, which he’s played sparingly in preseason. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said in a recent appearance on SportsCenter that “all signs point to Wilson being the right guy.”
Fowler added that Wilson’s “command” of the offense during training camp was “noticeably different” than his fellow Steelers quarterback since returning from a calf injury, according to Bleacher Report.
Wilson landed in Pittsburgh on just a one-year, $1.2 million contract after being cut by the Broncos (who will still pay the quarterback $85 million over the next two seasons).
Fields, meanwhile, was traded from Chicago for just a conditional sixth-round pick after they targeted him with the 11th overall pick in 2021.
Wilson played one series against the Lions in Saturday’s preseason game and led a TD drive
Chicago would then start over at the quarterback position with Caleb Williams, who they selected first overall in this year’s draft.
In 2023, Wilson outscored Fields in most key passing categories, including completion percentage (66.4 to 61.4), passing yards per game (204.7 to 197.1) and passing touchdowns (26 to 16).
Fields adds another element with his running, though, as he finished with 657 yards and four touchdowns on the ground last year.
Whoever Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback is, he will open the season on September 8 against the Falcons.