Steelers should be patient in bringing back Russell Wilson

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin would not commit to a starting quarterback for Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos, but it does seem possible, if not likely, that Justin Fields will get the start for the second week in a row.

That would mean no Russell Wilson revenge game against the Broncos.

As disappointing as that might be for Wilson and fans who want to see that storyline unfold, it is probably the best decision for the Steelers if Wilson is not completely 100 percent.

The issue for Wilson remains a calf injury that limited him throughout the preseason and eventually held him out of the team's 18-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

It is pretty clear that the Steelers think Wilson is the better quarterback. From the moment he arrived in Pittsburgh this offseason, he was put into the "pole position" for the starting spot, and he remains listed as the No. 1 quarterback on the depth chart. That is all the more reason to be patient with him in this situation.

If the Steelers believe Wilson is their best chance for success this season, they need to make sure he is fully healthy before they rush him back onto the field. If he is anything less than that, it not only limits his ability to play an effective game, it also leaves him more vulnerable to further injury. Calf injuries like the one Wilson is dealing with can be lingering issues, take time to heal and can easily be aggravated.

The Steelers — and Wilson — can not afford for that to happen.

This is where having an alternative like Fields is such a benefit for the Steelers, and why it was so important for them to completely redo their quarterback depth chart in the offseason.

Fields is a viable NFL starting quarterback and showed on Sunday that he can do enough to help Pittsburgh win football games on the road.

Even though the Steelers did not score a touchdown in their win, and even though Fields had rather pedestrian passing numbers, he still helped the Steelers sustain drives, made plays with his feet, consistently converted third downs and led scoring drives. He also seemed to get more comfortable as the game went on and as the Steelers used more play-action passing and rollouts to get him on the edge.

If Wilson shows later in the week he is fully healthy, start him. If he is anything less, it should be Fields until Wilson gets that full clearance.