Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin Undecided on Starting Quarterback for Week 1
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has revealed that he has yet to make a final decision on who will be the team’s starting quarterback for Week 1.
Russell Wilson has been operating as the starter in the preseason, but Tomlin stated that he will use more time to choose between him and Justin Fields, both of whom joined the Steelers this offseason.
‘We’ll make a decision at the end of our work week,’ Tomlin said. ‘This upcoming week we have three days of Steelers vs. Steelers work, and why not do it then? It minimizes the Steelers versus Steelers work when we started making decisions prior to the completion of that.’
Wilson, who has attempted just 12 passes this preseason, played one series against the Lions, leading to a touchdown, before exiting the game.
Russell Wilson (left) and Justin Fields are battling to be the Steelers’ starting quarterback
But Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin has admitted he’s yet to make a final decision on his passer
Fields played three series, leading a scoring drive, and completed 19 of 27 passes this preseason in more extended action than Wilson.
It likely bodes well for Wilson’s chances of earning the starting job that he has played sparingly this preseason, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said on a recent SportsCenter appearance that ‘all signs continue to point to Wilson being the guy.’
Fowler added that Wilson’s ‘command’ of the offense in training camp had been ‘noticeably different’ from his fellow Steelers quarterback since he returned from a calf injury.
Wilson landed in Pittsburgh for a mere one-year, $1.2 million deal after being released by the Broncos, who will still pay the quarterback $85 million over the next two seasons.
Fields, meanwhile, was traded from Chicago for only a conditional sixth-rounder after they used the 11th overall pick on him in 2021.
Wilson played for one series vs. the Lions in Saturday’s preseason game and led a TD drive
Whoever Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback ends up being, he’ll start the season vs. the Falcons on September 8.
