Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers remained tight-lipped about naming a starting quarterback on October 16, stating that the decision for Week 7 would “remain in-house.”
However, the situation surrounding who would practice with the first-team offense was different. Steelers left tackle Dan Moore confirmed to the media that Russell Wilson took first-team reps as the team prepared for their matchup against the New York Jets.
“Russell Wilson took first-team reps today, Dan Moore confirms,” reported Amanda Godsey of The Johnstown Tribune-Democrat on X (formerly Twitter).
Wilson had yet to play in any of the Steelers’ first six games this season. He was added to the active roster for the first time on October 13 for the game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Prior to that, he served as the emergency No. 3 quarterback due to a calf injury, only available in dire situations. In his absence, Justin Fields led the Steelers to a 4-2 record.
Russell Wilson Practices With Steelers First-Team Offense
It’s not surprising that Wilson practiced with the first-team offense on October 16. The day before, Tomlin had expressed confidence that Wilson would practice with the top unit at some point during the week.
With Wilson practicing ahead of Fields, it aligns with NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero’s report that Wilson is “in line to make his season debut” in Week 7.
On October 15, Tomlin refrained from naming a starting quarterback but acknowledged that Wilson was healthy and “in consideration” to start. The Steelers are set to host the Jets on Sunday night.
Could Justin Fields Still Play Even if Wilson Starts?
If Wilson gets the start, Fields will be relegated to the bench. However, this doesn’t rule out the possibility of Fields playing.
Before Week 1, when Wilson was expected to start against the Atlanta Falcons, Tomlin hinted at a special package of plays for Fields. On October 15, he again raised the idea of both quarterbacks seeing action.
Fields has been a significant asset for the Steelers due to his running ability. In Week 6, he rushed for 59 yards and two touchdowns in the Steelers’ 32-19 victory over the Raiders.
That said, Fields’ passing has left room for improvement. While he has only thrown one interception and achieved a career-high completion percentage, his yards per attempt and yards per completion are at career lows. The Steelers rank 28th in passing yards per game.
Wilson’s veteran presence could boost the Steelers’ passing game, but there are concerns. At 35, Wilson lacks Fields’ mobility. Tomlin described Fields’ running ability as an “x-factor” on October 15.
Additionally, Moore and left guard Isaac Seumalo are the only starting offensive linemen expected to play in Week 7. This leaves Tomlin with a choice: start a quarterback who makes quicker decisions or one who can use his legs to evade a pass rush.
