On Tuesday afternoon Mike Tomlin announced that Russell Wilson was finally fully healthy. The Steelers head coach announced that Wilson would get a chance to run on offense with the first team this week along with Justin Fields . With the Steelers tied for the lead in the division through six weeks, it could prove to be a huge mistake for Pittsburgh. Wilson hasn’t been announced as the starting quarterback yet, but this certainly opens the door.
Survival Of The Fittest
Through six weeks, Fields has looked like a competent starting quarterback in Pittsburgh. He’s led the Steelers to a 4-2 record, already posting nearly half of his wins in Chicago. His mobility on the ground has been a huge part of the Steelers offense. He’s been up and down as a passer, but his legs have kept the Steelers in games. Once the offense gets inevitably stagnant, Fields can take off and make it work on his own.
Fields has posted a 66.3% completion rate through six games, 1,106 passing yards, five touchdowns, and one interception. The former Bear passes for 184.3 yards per game and has been sacked 16 times. On the ground, he has 55 rush attempts for 231 rushing yards and five more touchdowns. He’s averaging 38.5 rushing yards a game on 9.2 rush attempts per week while picking up 17 first downs with his legs.
Now the Steelers are officially ready to bring Wilson into the fold, who missed most of camp and the first four weeks with a calf injury, serving as the emergency quarterback behind Kyle Allen . Now, Wilson will be fighting it out to be the starter this week. Steelers legend and future Hall of Famer Ben Roethlisberger says that he wouldn’t even consider removing Fields from his QB1 status, but the chances seem to grow by the day.
What’s Behind Door Number 3?
Outside of preseason, Wilson hasn’t seen game action since week 16 of last season before the Brioncos benched him. Comparing his last six weeks of work to Fields’ body of work this season, last year in weeks 11 through 16, Wilson had a 3-3 record, a 64.3% completion rate, 1,264 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and four interceptions. On the ground, Wilson rushed the ball 40 times for 110 yards and three touchdowns.
Wilson got dirt thrown on his name for his time in Denver, but it was only the first season with the Broncos that he struggled. Year two was a decent showing for the veteran quarterback who is about to turn 36 in November. Sure, Wilson’s ceiling as a passer is exponentially higher than Fields, but will he be able to survive behind an offensive line that is mauled with injury? Unfortunately, Pittsburgh won’t know until they try.
While Wilson is the better passer, the Steelers’ weapons have done Fields no justice in terms of getting open. It’s been relatively easy for defenses to key in on guys like George Pickens and Pat Freiermuth as none of the other pass catchers have proven to be a threat. Wilson can deliver better passes, but it won’t matter if nobody can get open. The Steelers have also seemed to be playing conservative football with Fields.
Although every reporter lazily translated it as Wilson is the new starter, that’s not exactly what Mike Tomlin said at his Tuesday press conference with the media. He simply stated that both will get to work with the starters and one will be chosen by the time the Steelers square off with the Jets on Sunday Night Football in week seven.
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