While Russell Wilson gets 1st-team work, Mike Tomlin not tipping hand on Steelers starter

The potential switch in quarterbacks began Wednesday for the Pittsburgh Steelers as they started on-field preparations for their game Sunday night against the New York Jets.

Russell Wilson, who is “under consideration” by coach Mike Tomlin to supplant Justin Fields as the starter, worked with the first-team offense, teammates acknowledged after practice.

Tomlin wouldn’t tip his hand about how the snaps were divided or whether he has determined Wilson will make his Steelers debut against the Jets in a prime-time matchup at Acrisure Stadium.

“It doesn’t benefit us,” Tomlin said after practice. “Both guys were full participants, and I liked their participation.”

Asked whether he had made up his mind about the identity of the team’s starter against the Jets, Tomlin offered a cryptic response.

“Any decisions that have been made at this point are in-house,” he said.

Wilson and Fields are scheduled to meet with the media Thursday after practice.

No longer listed on the injury report with the calf injury that originally surfaced on the eve of training camp, Wilson’s work with the first-team offense Wednesday was a departure from last week. That’s when he was a full practice participant, working primarily with the second unit, for the first time since he aggravated the injury four days before the season opener in Atlanta.

Fields took the bulk of the first-team snaps a week ago in preparation for his sixth consecutive start of the season. He helped the Steelers snap a two-game losing streak with a 32-13 victory at Las Vegas that improved their record to 4-2, which is tied with Baltimore atop the AFC North.

After spending the first five weeks as the No. 3 emergency quarterback, Wilson was elevated to backup status in Las Vegas but did not appear in the game aside from attending the coin toss as one of the team’s captains.

“It was good getting him in there,” left tackle Dan Moore Jr. said, “(getting those) first-team reps.”

Wilson will have to adjust to an ever-changing offensive line configuration. The Steelers will start a fifth combination Sunday with backup center Ryan McCollum replacing rookie starter Zach Frazier, who will miss the game with an ankle injury.

McCollum said his confidence in snapping to Wilson is “high.”

“I’ve played with all three of them,” he said. “All through camp and practice, as well. I feel comfortable with him.”

McCollum also had the benefit of snapping to Wilson while the 35-year-old quarterback was working his way back to health.

“I feel like the communication is good,” McCollum said. “We do a good job of swapping guys in and out to make sure we work with everyone. We did that throughout camp and into the season, so I feel good.”

If Wilson starts against the Jets, it will alter the style of the Steelers offense. The Steelers would swap a versatile, 25-year-old quarterback in Fields who has five rushing touchdowns and 231 yards on the ground for a passer who has almost 10 more years of experience but also the accompanying wear and tear on his body.

“For us, when you have a guy like that who can make plays with his feet, it takes pressure off us,” Moore said. “When we give up pressures and sack situations, he can get out of and not only extend plays, but make plays out of it. It helps us out tremendously.”

It’s a skill set Wilson no longer utilizes as he enters his 13th season. While Fields was apt to watch plays develop in the pocket and run if it collapsed, Wilson may be inclined to make quicker throws to his receivers and tight ends.

“We can’t really pay any attention to stuff like that and control what we can control,” Moore said. “We just have to focus on our execution. I don’t think it’s going to change tremendously. Obviously, designed quarterback schemes and runs may change. For the most part, our job will be the same. We have to keep him clean and get the ground game going.”