'Everything Is An Audition!' Steelers' Mike Tomlin Talks Quarterback Battle

For the last two weeks, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback situation has been up in the air. Pittsburgh just knew that Russell Wilson would be their starting quarterback, but a tweaked calf changed all of that.

Fourth-year quarterback Justin Fields has stepped up in a big way in his absence and has turned the position battle into a full-blown quarterback controversy.

Coach Mike Tomlin spoke to the media on Wednesday about this week’s preseason game announcing that Fields would be playing and Wilson would not. Tomlin was asked if this was Fields’ audition for the job.

“I think everything is an audition,” Tomlin said. “Everything that we do is an audition, not only for him [Justin Fields], but for others.”

While Fields will only play a few series in the first preseason game of the year, Tomlin’s comments cannot be overlooked. Reports are that Fields has dazzled in practices and his teammates are starting to really around him on the field.

Related: Steelers QB Russell Wilson OUT Friday vs. Texans

Tomlin was then asked if Fields had a genuine chance of winning the starting quarterback job and if there was truly a competition.

“Very much is a competition,” Tomlin said. “What happens in stadium is weighted heavier than what happens in a practice setting because it’s more game like.”

Wilson won’t be playing in this week’s preseason game, and Fields is starting. If Fields plays well on Friday night against the Houston Texans, it could be the former Ohio State Buckeye’s job to lose.