Tag: Justin Fields

Steelers have new starting quarterback at practice

Russell Wilson took the first-team reps at Steelers Wednesday practice.

On Wednesday, several members of the Pittsburgh Steelers acknowledged that it was indeed Russell Wilson who took first-team reps at practice that day. This is something head coach Mike Tomlin noted was a real possibility this week and it has now come to fruition.

The Steelers are preparing to square off against the New York Jets on Sunday night and we should know on Friday afternoon who the starting quarterback will be. Justin Fields has started the first six games of the season for Pittsburgh and led the team to a 4-2 record. Nevertheless, Tomlin has maintained the door is ajar for Wilson regardless of Fields’ success.

If we were betting, we would wager that Tomlin would give Wilson the nod as the starter but still include Fields in the game plan. We don’t like this from a schematic standpoint as Fields coming in sort of telegraphs the play but no one should be surprised if Wilson is the starter this week and going forward.

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Sneaky reason the Steelers should start Russell Wilson vs the Jets

There might be a method to Mike Tomlin’s madness with starting Russell Wilson this week.

When Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin addresses the media on Friday, we should have our answer as to whether it is Russell Wilson or Justin Fields starting versus the New York Jets this Sunday night. Tomlin said on Tuesday he was leaving the option open for Wilson now that he is 100 percent healthy.

It might seem insane for Tomlin to sit Fields down after going 4-2 as a starter and scoring 10 total touchdowns. But there might be a method to his madness. Just hear me out.

The Jets are a bad football team. They just fired their head coach last week after an awful start. Tomlin could view this game at home in prime time as a very winnable game and he can afford to play Wilson if the team is planning to trade one of their starting quarterbacks before the November 5 trade deadline.

If the team wants to trade Fields, why not start Wilson this week just to see what you have and be sure it’s safe to deal Fields. Or maybe the team wants to trade Wilson and wants to give him a game to show out and make an impression on a prospective team.

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Report: Jets could face new starting quarterback vs. Steelers

Report: Jets could face new starting quarterback vs. Steelers

Potentially lost the everything surrounding the Jets this week is this: They might face a new quarterback new week.

In the midst of trading for All-Pro receiver Davante Adams on Tuesday, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said a head-turning comment.

Per Steelers Wire, their head coach Mike Tomlin said veteran quarterback Russell Wilson is “in consideration” to start against the Jets in Week 7. The two teams faceoff on “Sunday Night Football” next weekend.

“We’re looking hard at it this week and it’s in consideration,” Tomlin said in his weekly press conference. “I’m sure at some point [he’ll get first-team reps]. I hadn’t decided who gets the ball first. That sort of minutiae hasn’t been decided.”

It remains to be seen who does start against the Jets. Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Wilson will be the one getting first-team reps in practice this week over Justin Fields who led the Steelers to a 4-2 start to the season.

Jets Wire will provide updates as information is made available.

Wisconsin legend to take first-team reps for Pittsburgh Steelers ahead of Week 7

Wisconsin legend to take first-team reps for Pittsburgh Steelers ahead of Week 7

Former Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson will take first-team reps in practice for the Pittsburgh Steelers this week, per the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

After six weeks of Justin Fields under center, it appears as if head coach Mike Tomlin is directing the team’s quarterback focus to NFL veteran Russell Wilson for Week 7 against the New York Jets.

Wilson, who dealt with a nagging calf injury dating back to the beginning of Pittsburgh’s training camp window, is now in consideration to start for the first time as a Steeler.

Fields, meanwhile, has proven to be a respectable replacement under the gun to start the 2024 campaign. Through six appearances, the former Chicago Bear has completed 66.3% of his throws for over 1,100 passing yards and five passing touchdowns. The dynamic playmaker has also rushed 55 times for 231 yards and five touchdowns.

While the Steelers do boast four wins on the season, the offense has yet to look explosive. Aside from last week’s 32-13 thumping against the Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh has amassed 20 points or fewer in four games. Fields, who can certainly run, has essentially operated as a game manager.

Still, Wilson is nowhere near the type of player he was when leading the Seattle Seahawks to deep playoff runs nearly a decade ago. In two seasons with the Denver Broncos, Wilson went 11-19 as a starter and missed the playoffs both seasons.

Wilson’s status as Pittsburgh’s starter will certainly stay in the headlines for the entire week. The Steelers take the field next on Sunday, Oct. 20 against the New York Jets.

Steelers’ RB eases tension on Week 7 QB decision in hilarious fashion

Steelers’ RB Cordarrelle Patterson added some much needed humor in response to fan backlash over HC Mike Tomlin’s QB decision for Week 7.

While his performance in Week 4 against the Indianapolis Colts was spectacular, Steelers’ running back Cordarrelle Patterson’s true gem has been his social media interactions.  Fans were treated to a rather funny courting by Patterson, not once, but twice directed at former Raiders WR Davante Adams to come play for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

While fans were eagerly anticipating the potential arrival of Adams, many were disappointed on Monday morning to find out that not only had the New York Jets acquired the 31-year old All-Pro receiver, but that Mike Tomlin had all but confirmed Russell Wilson would start over the 4-2 Justin Fields.  To alleviate some of the backlash directed at his current team, Patterson jokingly told the ‘Steel City’ who the real quarterback in Week 7 would be.

 

Patterson has truly added some much needed comedic relief during trying times for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the fans will excitedly wait for his inevitable return from injury.

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Russell Wilson is the best Steelers’ QB and Mike Tomlin knows it

While Justin Fields may be 4-2 on the season, there is great chance the team would be undefeated if Russell Wilson started in all six games.

From trade target Davante Adams eluding Pittsburgh’s grasp, to their AFC North rival seemingly giving up and selling their 2024 season away, this has been a Monday filled with major highs and lows for Steelers fans. However, the hits kept coming, as head coach Mike Tomlin practically confirmed the team would strip QB Justin Fields of his starting duties for the now-healthy Russell Wilson. 

While the decision is polarizing, to say the least, Tomlin made the right call. Fields has done more to lose games for the team than to win them. The former Bears QB’s athleticism has never been in question, but his passing ability has left much to be desired. Under Fields, the team’s passing attack has struggled heavily in recent weeks—failing to surpass 300 passing yards and recording only two passing touchdowns over two weeks. 

Russell Wilson’s resume is more proven: Super Bowl XLVIII champion, nine-time Pro Bowl selection, 2015 passer rating leader, and 2017 passing touchdown leader. Fields has never thrown more than 17 touchdowns in a season, and Tomlin simply wants what’s best for the team. 

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Around the NFL: Russell Wilson in line to start for the 4-2 Steelers on Sunday

Around the NFL: Russell Wilson in line to start for the 4-2 Steelers on Sunday

Former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has not taken one snap of NFL action this season due to a lingering calf injury, but that may not be the case for much longer. On Tuesday it was reported Wilson is going to take first team reps at practice this week, paving the way for him to get the start on Sunday Night Football at home this weekend.

The Steelers are hosting the New York Jets in prime time, who just came off a 23-20 loss on Monday Night Football to the Buffalo Bills. If Wilson does start, it will be another edition of his longstanding rivalry against Aaron Rodgers.

Making a quarterback change like this is certainly unusual. Pittsburgh is 4-2, and while backup Justin Fields hasn’t exactly wowed anyone with eyepopping statistics, he also has not played terribly either. Fields has been doing just enough to not lose games, allowing the Steelers’ elite defense to close out games.

But, like I said, Fields isn’t playing like a Pro Bowler. Pittsburgh is ekeing out close victories, but there is a lot to be desired from their offense. Perhaps Wilson can help provide a spark to the Steelers on his side of the ball, to where they don’t have to keep grinding out nail-biting wins.

It has been a rough few years for Wilson. If he is going to find a way to resurrect his career, he is going to need an opportunity to play. Now, it seems he will get it.

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Steelers playing with fire in their quarterback competition

Is Pittsburgh making a mistake if they start Russell Wilson?

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin opened up a big can of worms at his Tuesday press conference this week. Tomlin didn’t come right out and say Russell Wilson is planning to start this week against the New York Jets but he left the door open for it in a big way.

According to NFL reporter Tom Pelissero, the Steelers plan to give Wilson first-team reps in practice this week. No mention of whether or not Wilson will get all of the reps or if it will be a split between Wilson and Justin Fields but if Wilson is healthy, the odds are Tomlin is leaning toward starting him Sunday night against the New York Jets.

If the Steelers go to Wilson now, there might be no going back. Fields has done everything asked of him and has the team at 4-2. Bench him now and if Wilson struggles, what is the benefit? And how would Fields respond if he’s put back into the starting lineup? This whole thing feels like a dangerous situation that could completely blow up in the Steelers face if it doesn’t work.

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AFC North News: Steelers set to make a change at QB position

The Steelers plan to give Russell Wilson first-team reps in practice this week, putting him in line to make his season debut and start Sunday night against the Jets

The Steelers are 4-2, tied atop the AFC North with the Baltimore Ravens. Even with the early regular season success, head coach Mike Tomlin appears set to make a change at the quarterback position.

Tom Pelissero reports that Russell Wilson will get first-team reps in practice this week, putting him in line to start against the New York Jets on NBC’s Sunday Night Football.

Fields only threw for only 145 yards in the Steelers’ 32-13 win over the Raiders on Sunday, opening up the door for Wilson to add a downfield passing aspect to a team currently being led by its top-ranked defensive unit.

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Steelers’ legendary QB supports Justin Fields remaining as starter

Ben Roethlisberger recently spoke on his podcast, Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger, about Justin Fields remaining the starter.

Justin Fields appears to be making friends and supporters in all the right places. Two-time Super Bowl champion, Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, believes that the only stat Pittsburgh should hold Fields accountable for is the win-loss record. 

While Fields posted his worst passer rating of the 2024 season in Week 6, the Steelers’ young QB made up for it with his athletic prowess—11 rushes for 59 yards and two rushing touchdowns. 

Roethlisberger spoke highly of Fields’ ability to keep the Steelers winning, talking about what he does right on his podcast, Footballin With Ben Roethlisberger: “What he did with his arm, what he did with his legs, I thought was really, really impressive.” He also added that it would take around two awful turnovers to give the starting duties back to Russell Wilson. 

Is Roethlisberger correct in his assessment, or should the defense truly be credited as the reason for Pittsburgh’s success? Only time will tell, but the former 2020 Walter Payton Man of the Year, Wilson, may push Fields to reach even higher levels. 

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