Insiders update if Steelers' Justin Fields can take full-time starting job from Russell Wilson

Before quarterback Justin Fields guided the Pittsburgh Steelers to a second straight victory to open the season, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN said last week that he believed veteran Russell Wilson would reclaim the starting job whenever Wilson is cleared to play coming off the lingering calf injury that's kept him out of action this month.

For a piece published Wednesday, Fowler and ESPN's Dan Graziano touched upon whether Fields can cement himself as Pittsburgh's starter this weekend assuming he starts the Week 3 home game against the 2-0 Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, as expected.

"Based on the talks I've had with people inside and outside the organization, my sense is that Wilson's stronger command of the offense will give him another shot once ready," Fowler shared. "His presence might reopen the middle of the field, which the Steelers have largely ignored over the first two weeks."

Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith reportedly "reduced Fields' margin of error by simplifying the pass attack" for the Week 1 matchup at the Atlanta Falcons and this past Sunday's ugly 13-6 win at the Denver Broncos. Fowler noted that Pittsburgh recorded only one touchdown across 21 offensive drives over those games, and Fields has thus far looked more like a game manager than a game-changing player at the position.

According to ESPN stats, Fields heads into Week 3 ranked 23rd in the NFL among qualified players with a 41.8 adjusted QBR and 28th with 273 passing yards. He tallied one touchdown pass with no interceptions over his first two starts with Pittsburgh, and he also rushed for 84 yards on 22 carries.

"If Fields goes 3-0," Fowler acknowledged in his latest update, "I don't see a scenario in which [Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin] makes an immediate move to Wilson, who's lack of reps dating to late July is working against him."

Meanwhile, Graziano added that he thinks Tomlin will "be tempted to stick with what's working" as long as Pittsburgh stays undefeated.

As of Wednesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Steelers as 1.5-point favorites against the unbeaten Chargers. It remains to be seen if Fields will have to do more than merely back into a win over Los Angeles to stay atop the depth chart for Pittsburgh's Week 4 game at the Indianapolis Colts (0-2) on Sept. 29.