Steelers’ Justin Fields Makes Bold Promise Ahead of Week 2
With starting quarterback Russell Wilson still recovering from a calf injury sustained in Week 1, the Pittsburgh Steelers will once again turn to Justin Fields as QB1 for their Week 2 matchup against the Denver Broncos. This gives Fields a chance to deliver on a recent promise he made.
“That’s not gonna happen again,” Fields declared during a postgame press conference on September 8, referring to the offense’s slow start against the Atlanta Falcons.
Despite the sluggish beginning, Fields remained calm. “At the end of the day, nobody was stressed,” he explained. “No one was panicking or asking, ‘What’s going on?’ We know what kind of game we play, and we know what we can do on the field. Of course, we still have areas to improve—red zone efficiency, reducing penalties—but the slow start wasn’t a concern.”
Fields took full accountability for the early mistakes, including a fumbled handoff and a missed throw to wide receiver Van Jefferson on the game’s opening drive. However, he noted that the team “settled in” as the game progressed, adding confidently that the slow start “won’t happen again.”
Justin Fields Prioritizes Wins Over the Starting Job
For a Steelers fanbase that’s been hungry for offensive consistency, Fields’ assurance is appealing. Many fans see him as the quarterback with higher potential compared to Wilson at this point in their careers. If Fields can deliver a strong performance against the Broncos, it could go a long way toward fulfilling that promise.
Yet, Fields insists he’s not focused on securing the starting job. “To be honest, I’m not even worried about that,” Fields said on September 10 when asked if he views this as a chance to claim the QB1 role. “All I care about is winning, and I’m happy we got the win.”
Much like Wilson, Fields has remained humble amid the Steelers’ quarterback situation. However, every moment under center counts as Pittsburgh eyes another Super Bowl run.
Russell Wilson Expected to Reclaim Starting Job Once Healthy
As of September 10, Wilson is still not fully recovered. However, most team insiders believe Wilson will return to the starting role once he’s healthy, including Steelers beat writer Mark Kaboly.
In a September 10 column, Kaboly wrote: “Russell Wilson is the starting quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers, should be the starting quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and will remain the starting quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Period.”
Kaboly emphasized that Wilson was handpicked to lead the Steelers’ offense and hasn’t done anything to lose that status. Despite Fields getting an opportunity to start, Kaboly believes Wilson will retake the QB1 role as soon as his health permits it. He noted that, so far, Fields hasn’t done enough on the field to change that perception—though that could change soon.
All eyes will be on Fields as he takes the helm in Week 2, where he’ll have another chance to prove his worth.
