Since he first spoke after the Steelers signed Russell Wilson and traded for Justin Fields, Mike Tomlin has said the veteran Wilson was in “pole position” to start.
But a calf injury on the first day of Training Camp has nagged Wilson throughout, causing him to miss the first game of the season, with Justin Fields starting.
Tomlin’s narrative on Wilson seemed to change Tuesday when he had a couple chances to say Wilson would play, if healthy, but didn’t.
“That’s a big if,” said Tomlin. “I’m not into the hypotheticals as I mentioned. Right now, he’s not healthy and so my time and attention is focused on the readiness of Justin.”
Tomlin was later asked again about Wilson directly. That question came from Mark Kaboly of 93.7 The Fan and The Pat McAfee Show.
“When healthy, is Russell still your QB1?” asked Kaboly.
“Again, I’m not going to sooth you with hypothetical scenarios, it is my general practice to not, you guys that know me know I do not so, why start today because it’s the quarterback position or because it’s a national story,” said Tomlin.
Tomlin is probably trying to tamp down any thoughts of quarterback speculation, but he also had every opportunity to say that Wilson is, when healthy, the starting quarterback, but didn’t.
Tomlin has praised Justin Fields’ ability to be mobile and Russell Wilson’s ability to protect the ball, but other than a couple of miscues on snaps at the beginning of the game, Fields didn’t turn the ball over against the Falcons.
“Mike Tomlin is absolutely in love with the mobility factor (of Fields),” said Joe Starkey reacting to Tomlin’s news conference. “I’m really starting to wonder, now especially if his stance has chanced on Fields and Wilson.”
For what it's worth, Wilson is still listed as QB1 on the Steelers' depth chart.
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