Justin Fields appears to be the guy headed into the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Week 4 contest against the Indianapolis Colts. The decision by head coach Mike Tomlin to stick with Fields while Russell Wilson recovers from his calf injury is the right one for a specific reason.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing Justin Fields for Week 4
The Steelers are prepping Fields to start against the Colts, but Tomlin refuses to officially announce the former first-round pick as their official QB1. Per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, Tomlin said on Tuesday that it wasn’t time to decide who would be Pittsburgh’s permanent starting quarterback.
“No question Justin has played well, and that’s exciting for him and for us,” Tomlin said. “I haven’t looked at that in terms of decision-making because it’s not time for that.”
Tomlin on Justin Fields and the impact of his performance on the starting QB decision: "No question Justin has played well, and that's exciting for him and for us. I haven't looked at that in terms of decision-making because it's not time for that."
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) September 24, 2024
Fields has played well to start the season
Fields has led the Steelers to a 3-0 start. While the offense hasn’t been shattering league records, Fields has shown he’s capable of managing the team to wins, provided the defense continues to hold opponents to ten points or fewer.
Fields is 55-of-75 passing for 518 yards, two touchdowns and one interception through his first three games this fall. He’s rushed 28 times for 90 yards and a touchdown. He played his best game of the season in a 20-10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
The Steelers shouldn’t start Wilson if his calf hasn’t healed 100%. There’s no reason to risk Wilson aggravating his calf this early in the season and with Fields winning games.
The Steelers will likely need Russell Wilson at some point
Every season, numerous NFL teams that are playoff contenders lose their starting quarterback to injury. Fields has been injured in every season he played for the Chicago Bears. He suffered multiple cracked ribs in 2021. He suffered an A/C joint separation and hip strain during the 2022 season. He dislocated his right thumb last year.
Some of those injuries were no doubt due to the play of the Bears’ offense. However, Fields’ style of play makes him susceptible to taking dangerous hits.
The Steelers don’t need to risk the long-term prospects of the season by playing a quarterback who already has an injury. The Steelers will likely need both quarterbacks at some point in this campaign.
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