The Pittsburgh Steelers are off to a strong start this season, going 2-0 with Justin Fields at quarterback. However, the team hasn’t had to rely too heavily on its offense in the first two weeks.
Despite the success, there’s speculation about whether head coach Mike Tomlin will bench Fields once veteran Russell Wilson returns from his calf injury.
In Week 2, the Steelers faced Wilson’s former team, the Denver Broncos, and came out on top with a 13-6 victory. Wilson, who was released by the Broncos earlier this year, shared a brief message on social media following the win. On X (formerly Twitter), he reposted a Steelers victory graphic, captioning it, “Team W!”
Wilson’s post received a positive reaction from both Steelers fans and the broader NFL community. Many appreciated his leadership and support for the team from the sidelines.
One fan commented, “Way to be a leader and support this team on the sidelines. Glad to see this.” Another fan, who attended the game, shared, “We were at the game. I watched you walk up and down cheering and keeping everyone up. Thanks for your leadership. God has a plan. And I’m glad we got to be in this ride with you.”
Some fans even expressed a desire to see Wilson back in action, with one user requesting, “please start next week.” Wilson’s post quickly gained traction, amassing over 8,000 likes within five hours. While his message didn’t mention Fields directly, it was a clear show of support for his teammates after a significant victory against his former team.
Despite the Steelers’ win, there’s still uncertainty about the quarterback situation going forward
According to reports from Steelers insider Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh is expected to stick with Fields as the starter at least through Week 4. ESPN’s Brooke Pryor echoed that sentiment after the Broncos game, predicting that Fields will start again in the Steelers’ upcoming home opener.
Although Fields had a solid performance, completing 10 of 12 passes for 101 yards and a touchdown in the first half, he struggled to maintain momentum after halftime.
The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo noted that Fields showed growth but acknowledged that the Steelers’ offense needs to improve overall. “Fields managed the game well in the first half,” DeFabo wrote, but in the second half, the offense “struggled to stay in rhythm,” gaining just 62 yards after the break and securing only three first downs.
Fields himself was candid about the team’s performance following the win. During an on-field interview with CBS reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala, he admitted that while the Steelers “did enough to win,” the offense “didn’t play good enough.” He praised the defense for its strong showing but pointed out that the offense needs to clean up “self-inflicted wounds” and avoid mistakes moving forward.
Kinkhabwala also complimented Fields on some of the impressive throws he made during the game, but Fields was not easily satisfied. He acknowledged his progress from the previous week but emphasized the importance of eliminating penalties for the offense to perform at its best.
During his postgame press conference, Fields also made it clear that the Steelers dedicated this victory to Wilson, who he believes was “done dirty” by the Broncos.
While Wilson’s return to the field remains uncertain, the support he’s shown for his team, combined with Fields’ honest assessment of their performance, suggests that the Steelers’ quarterback situation will be one to watch in the coming weeks.
