Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin mentioned that quarterback Russell Wilson is “in consideration” to start in Week 7 against the New York Jets, adding further uncertainty to the team’s quarterback situation.
With Justin Fields performing well and Wilson now healthy, the decision isn’t clear-cut as the Steelers approach the upcoming game.
On October 15, the situation grew more complicated.
Just before Tomlin’s Tuesday press conference, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that the Steelers “plan to give Russell Wilson first-team reps in practice” ahead of their Week 7 game against the Jets, suggesting Wilson could be in line for his season debut.
“Pittsburgh is 4-2 with Justin Fields,” Pelissero noted, “but with Wilson’s calf fully healed, he now gets his chance.”
However, Tomlin provided a slightly different outlook during his press conference.
“We’ll determine that as we get closer to tomorrow,” Tomlin said when asked about the starting quarterback for practice. “We’ve got more strategic meetings today. I’ll admit, [Wilson] proved his health last week, and we’re seriously considering it this week.”
“It’s up for consideration.”
Tomlin did not reveal whether he’s leaning toward Wilson or Fields for Week 7, adding that he would make a decision closer to game time.
Russell Wilson to Start in Week 7?
Adding to the speculation, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport retweeted Pelissero’s report, hinting at a possible quarterback change by writing, “A QB change in Pittsburgh.”
A change could indeed be on the horizon for the Steelers in Week 7. If Tomlin were entirely confident in Fields’ performance, he could have named him the starter on October 15. The fact that the staff remains “undecided” suggests Wilson is being strongly considered.
But as of October 15, there has been no definitive quarterback change.
“I’m sure at some point,” Tomlin said when asked about Wilson practicing with the first team. “But I haven’t decided who gets the ball first.”
“For now, that detail remains undecided.”
Tomlin noted that Wilson spent last week “knocking the rust off,” but he’s also confident that Wilson’s experience would allow him to quickly get up to speed in his debut.
“There’s the totality of his resume, which provides a level of comfort that you don’t always get with less experienced players,” Tomlin explained. “His experience allows us to feel confident he can play well with limited exposure.”
Mike Tomlin Praises Justin Fields
While Tomlin didn’t commit to Fields as the starter, his comments suggest the team’s evaluation is broader than just Fields’ recent performance.
“Justin has been really good, and we’ve been good at times, but not great,” Tomlin said. “This is a competitive league, and we’re trying to position ourselves to be that great team. We’ve got a talented player who hasn’t had the opportunity to play yet, so we’re considering exploring that.”
“Sometimes it’s not just about what Justin has or hasn’t done. He’s been a real asset for us.”
Despite Fields’ solid play, Pittsburgh needs more from its passing game, which currently ranks 28th in the league, averaging just 166.8 yards per game. Fields has completed 66.3% of his passes this season and thrown just one interception, but his deep passing has been less effective.
However, Fields has been an additional threat in the run game, something Tomlin acknowledged, calling Fields’ mobility “an x-factor” that Wilson doesn’t possess. Fields has already scored five rushing touchdowns this season.
As Week 7 approaches, the Steelers face a pivotal decision about who will lead the team’s offense against the Jets.
