Justin Fields

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson emphasized the contributions of teammate Justin Fields on the field and behind the scenes as they have battled for the starting job.

The nine-time Pro Bowler flatly denied the idea he and Fields have any sort of rivalry or antagonism toward one another.

"I got to give Justin Fields credit, man, just all the things that he was able to do, how great he's been playing, man, he inspires me every day," Wilson told reporters after a 37-15 win over the New York Jets on Sunday night. "... He's a tremendous quarterback, he's a franchise quarterback, he's a leader. He's got all the intangibles and whatever I can give to him and show him and just be around him, that's part of my job."

Russell Wilson spoke to the media following our win over the Jets. pic.twitter.com/6ghcMbJwI8

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) October 21, 2024

Head coach Mike Tomlin made the bold call of benching Fields for Wilson in Week 7.

Fields seemingly hadn't done anything to earn the demotion. Pittsburgh was 4-2 in his six starts, and he had thrown for 1,106 yards, five touchdowns and one interception.

Tomlin apparently knew what he was doing, though. Wilson finished 16-of-29 for 264 yards and two touchdowns through the air. There's no question the passing game looked better with him under center. George Pickens in particular benefited from the switch as he caught five passes for 111 yards and one score.

GEORGE. PICKENS. WHAT A CATCH 😱

(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/SncTqyew2H

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 21, 2024

Of course, fans were probably drawing some of the same conclusions about Andy Dalton after the Carolina Panthers quarterback lit up the Las Vegas Raiders secondary in Week 3. Dalton has since regressed badly. He had just 93 passing yards in Sunday's 40-7 loss to the Washington Commanders.

For now, Wilson removed any doubt as to who will run the offense in Week 8 against the New York Giants. Should his performance tail off a bit, Tomlin may have a tough dilemma on his hands between sticking with Wilson or pivoting back to Fields.

Mike Tomlin's decision to start Russell Wilson paid off.

The Pittsburgh Steelers head coach was proud of himself following the team's 37-15 win over the New York Jets on Sunday. When former NFL wide receiver Brandon Marshall asked Tomlin if starting Wilson under center was one of his "boldest" decisions, he responded.

"That's why I'm well compensated," Tomlin said, via ESPN's Brooke Pryor.

Brandon Marshall stops by the postgame presser and asks Mike Tomlin if it was one of his boldest decisions to start Russell Wilson.

Tomlin: “that’s why I’m well-compensated.” pic.twitter.com/fQ5bdMsOtA

— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) October 21, 2024

Prior to the game, Tomlin took ownership of the decision to start Wilson over Justin Fields. The Steelers opened the year with a 4-2 record in Fields' six starts, with the 25-year-old scoring 10 total touchdowns to go along with one interception.

4th down. Justin Fields gets the touchdown.

📺: #PITvsLV on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/fI31lKh6JA

— NFL (@NFL) October 13, 2024

Wilson was named Pittsburgh's starting quarterback entering Week 1, but he was unable to suit up in the team's first six contests after aggravating a calf injury. Tomlin's bold choice appeared to be the correct one, as the nine-time Pro Bowl passer thrived against an imposing Jets secondary.

Wilson finished 16-of-29 for 264 yards and two touchdowns without committing a turnover in his first appearance of the season, adding a third score on the ground.

RUSS WITH HIS FIRST TD AS A STEELER 🔥

WHAT A CATCH FROM PICKENS 😱

(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/w92Egcv6tT

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 21, 2024

"I thought he was excellent," Tomlin said of Wilson after the game, per Pryor. "I thought he got better as the game went on. But I'm not surprised by that. It has been a while since he's played some ball, but I thought he settled in, knocked the rust off and distributed the ball around and played well."

Sitting at 5-2 with the NFL's second-best scoring defense, the Steelers are currently in first place in the AFC North. If Wilson can continue to lead the offense to high-scoring performances, Tomlin's team could be preparing for a second consecutive playoff appearance.

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin revealed that he made the decision to bench quarterback Justin Fields for veteran Russell Wilson on his own.

Tomlin explained the choice during a conversation with Fox Sports' Jay Glazer.

"I spoke to Mike Tomlin about it last night and he said, look, 'I went lone ranger on it.' [Terry Bradshaw], you're not the only one against this, there were a lot of people inside that organization who were as well," Glazer said on Fox NFL Sunday.

"And he said, 'look, if it doesn't work out, I'll take the heat, I'll shoulder the blame, no problem,'" Glazer added. "'The reason why I did this is I know I had two quarterbacks going into camp that are very capable, but I wanted to see both of them before I made a long-term decision. Well, I haven't seen the other one. I want to see at least what I have from him, exhaust all option, and then make a decision down the stretch. I'm not trying to win games, I'm trying to win a world title here. I got to see what I got in both.'"

"I went lone ranger" 😳@JayGlazer spoke with Mike Tomlin last night regarding his decision to start Russell Wilson. pic.twitter.com/bbzzequcg1

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 20, 2024

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Saturday that Wilson will start against the New York Jets on Sunday, with Fields also expected to receive some playing time.

Both quarterbacks battled for the first-string job throughout training camp. Wilson was initially named Pittsburgh's Week 1 starter, but he ended up missing the team's first six games of the season after aggravating a calf injury.

Fields started under center in his place, leading the Steelers to a 4-2 record. He completed 66.3 percent of his throws for 1,106 yards in six appearances, tossing five touchdowns compared to just one interception.

Fields ➡️ Pickens = 31 yards

📺: #PITvsLV on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/ldUoDPjz6x

— NFL (@NFL) October 13, 2024

The former Chicago Bears quarterback also made plays with his legs, adding another 231 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.

Tomlin's decision hasn't been met with unanimous approval, as Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported on Saturday that questions were being asked "around the league" regarding his choice to start Wilson.

The quarterback change doesn't appear to be permanent, with Tomlin telling Glazer that he wants to evaluate both players. It's worth noting that Wilson is coming off an impressive 2023 campaign despite leading the Denver Broncos to a 7-8 record.

In 15 starts, the 35-year-old threw for 3,070 yards and 26 touchdowns while getting picked off just eight times.

RUSS TO SUTTON!

📺: #DENvsHOU on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/xvCjbLUIcN pic.twitter.com/O9K2oiAC61

— NFL (@NFL) December 3, 2023

Wilson will need to overcome an imposing Jets secondary, as New York owns the NFL's second-best pass defense. Kickoff between the Steelers and Jets is on Sunday at 8:20 p.m. ET.

After a solid start to his tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers, quarterback Justin Fields' time as the starter could be coming to an end as soon as Sunday against the New York Jets.

Per The Athletic's Dianna Russini, there is some speculation among people around the league that the Steelers could turn to Russell Wilson in part because of the terms of their trade with the Chicago Bears for Fields.

Russini did note there's no indication that head coach Mike Tomlin is actually using that as part of his decision-making process.

When the two teams agreed to the deal in March, the Steelers sent a conditional 2025 draft pick to Chicago. The pick is currently a sixth-rounder that could become a fourth-rounder if Fields plays at least 51 percent of Pittsburgh's offensive snaps.

Fields has been the starter for the first six games of the season in part because Wilson dealt with a calf injury that kept him inactive for the first five weeks. Wilson was active for Week 6 against the Las Vegas Raiders, but he served as the backup to Fields.

The two quarterbacks have been sharing first-team reps in practice this week. Tomlin told reporters on Friday he knows who will start against the Jets, but he will "keep that in-house" until he has to make it public.

Even though the offense hasn't been great with Fields, he has run it well enough to get them out to a 4-2 start and tied with the Baltimore Ravens for first place in the AFC North entering Week 7.

Fields has thrown for 1,106 yards, run for 231 yards and accounted for 10 touchdowns. He has only turned the ball over twice in six games, but his six fumbles are the most in the NFL.

The Steelers have only scored more than 20 points in a game twice and have put up fewer than 300 yards of total offense four times.

Wilson was named the team's starter coming into the season before his calf injury flared up. He hasn't appeared in a game since Week 15 of the 2023 season with the Denver Broncos. The nine-time Pro Bowler threw for 3,070 yards and 26 touchdowns in 15 starts last season.

Although the Pittsburgh Steelers have yet to make an official announcement, Russell Wilson is reportedly expected to start at quarterback against the New York Jets on Sunday night.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Steelers are planning to start Wilson and he will play the bulk of the snaps, although Fields will see some action as well.

ESPN reported earlier Friday that the Jets were preparing for Wilson to start, but also prepared for the Steelers continuing to utilize Fields, perhaps as part of a third-down or red-zone package.

If Wilson does start, it will be his first start of the season, as he did not see any game action during the Steelers' first six contests due to a calf injury suffered during training camp.

After serving as the Denver Broncos' starter for two seasons, Wilson was released at the conclusion of the 2023 campaign. Since the Broncos still owed Wilson a significant amount of guaranteed money, it allowed him to offer his services to other teams at a discounted rate.

The nine-time Pro Bowler and one-time Super Bowl champion ultimately signed a one-year, $1.21 million contract with the Steelers.

Pittsburgh later added Fields in a trade with the Chicago Bears for insurance, and Wilson was named the Steelers' starting quarterback during the preseason.

However, Wilson aggravated his calf injury shortly before the start of the regular season, and when it was determined during a pre-game warmup in Week 1 that he was not healthy enough to play, Fields got the start.

Fields went on to start the Steelers' first six games of the season, posting a 4-2 record while completing 66.3 percent of his passes for 1,106 yards, five touchdowns and one interception, plus 231 yards and five scores on the ground.

While Fields struggled as a passer in last week's 32-13 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, going 14-of-24 for 145 yards with no touchdowns or picks, he did score two rushing touchdowns.

Despite Fields racking up another win, Wilson took the first-team reps in practice this week and was removed from the injury report, leading to speculation that he was in line to take back the starting job.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin still hasn't made that announcement, but Steelers wide receiver George Pickens may have let the proverbial cat out of the bag by telling reporters he was doing extra work with Wilson since he was about to have his "first start."

If Wilson does indeed start, it may be a controversial decision within the Steelers' fanbase since Fields has played virtually mistake-free football and helped the team play well out of the gates.

However, Wilson is a veteran of 188 career regular-season starts and 16 playoff starts, including a pair of Super Bowl appearances.

Tomlin could be of the belief that Wilson gives the Steelers a better chance to win come playoff time, and if that is the case, getting him back in the lineup as soon as possible makes sense.

Wilson is in line to have a tough first assignment against the Jets, though, since they rank second in the NFL in total defense with just 273 total yards allowed per game.

It can be argued that Fields' mobility would play well against the Jets, but all signs point toward Wilson finally getting his shot in a primetime home game Sunday night.

George Pickens may have let the cat out of the bag.

After Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters Friday he decided who the starting quarterback will be for Sunday's game against the New York Jets but was keeping the decision "in-house," Pickens said he has been working more with Russell Wilson "because this is his first start" over Justin Fields.

George Pickens said he’s been putting in extra work with QB Russell Wilson after practice - more than usual - “because this is his first start.” pic.twitter.com/6rlQSBU8Hj

— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) October 18, 2024

Pickens has already been under the spotlight this season, as he was fined for an explicit message he wore on his eye black during a game against the Dallas Cowboys that saw him play reduced snaps.

What's more, Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported "Pickens has shown up late for work on multiple occasions this season."

Tomlin surely won't be thrilled that his decision he was hoping to keep secret ahead of a key AFC showdown was essentially spilled by the team's No. 1 wide receiver.

Still, things seemed to be trending in this direction, as NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Tuesday that Wilson was "in line" to start as he received first-team practice reps with the calf injury that sidelined him to start the season now "fully healed."

Had Wilson been healthy at the start of the season, there would have been zero surprises if Tomlin named him the No. 1 quarterback ahead of Fields.

After all, the veteran is a nine-time Pro Bowler with a Super Bowl title on his resume. Even though he struggled with the Denver Broncos with an 11-19 record as a starter the last two seasons, he is still far more accomplished than Fields.

However, Fields changed the conversation some by going 4-2 in the first six games of the year.

He has completed a career-best 66.3 percent of his passes for 1,106 yards, five touchdowns and just one interception all while adding 231 yards and five scores on the ground as a runner. That mobility is something the 35-year-old Wilson cannot bring to the table anymore at this stage of his career, and it gave the Steelers another dimension.

Yet Fields remained humble and told reporters Thursday, "I don't think I played good enough, if I'm being real with you. If I'm being real with myself, I think if I did play well enough, I don't think there would be any sort of who should be playing, who should not."

Alas, it seems as if Tomlin is going to make the switch to Wilson as Pittsburgh looks to parlay its quick start to the campaign into a potential playoff push with the veteran under center.

Pittsburgh Steelers legend Terry Bradshaw has cast his vote for Justin Fields as the team continues to decide whether or not to start Russell Wilson at quarterback.

Speaking to TMZ Sports, Bradshaw explained that Fields has "played well enough to keep the job" and he "just fits the team he has right now."

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters on Tuesday that Wilson, who was inactive for the first five games of the season due to a calf injury, is "in consideration to start against the New York Jets and he would make a decision "closer to game time."

Per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the Steelers are giving Wilson first-team reps in practice this week that puts him "in line" to make his season debut on Sunday.

Wilson was active for the first time this season in Week 6, but he didn't play in Pittsburgh's 32-13 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.

Despite their 4-2 record with Fields starting at quarterback, the Steelers offense hasn't had a lot of success. The win over the Raiders marked the first time they scored more than 24 points in a game, but they had just 293 total yards.

Pittsburgh has had fewer than 200 passing yards four times in six games. The biggest issue for Fields is holding onto the football. He leads the NFL with six fumbles. Only one has resulted in a turnover, but that was also an issue in the preseason that Tomlin called out.

Fields acknowledged this week that if he were playing better, there wouldn't be a reason for the Steelers to consider making a change.

Justin Fields: "I don't think I played good enough, if I'm being real with you. If I'm being real with myself, I think if I did play well enough, I don't think there would be any sort of who should be playing, who should not."

— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) October 17, 2024

One advantage Fields has over Wilson is his ability as a runner. Even though his passing stats haven't been great so far, he leads all quarterbacks with five rushing touchdowns and ranks fifth with 231 rushing yards.

Wilson is more capable of making big plays in the passing game, but he was sacked 100 times during his two seasons with the Broncos. Some of that can be blamed on the offensive line, but he has historically held onto the ball longer than most quarterbacks waiting for the home run rather than taking what's available.

The Steelers host the Jets on Sunday Night Football this week looking to improve their record to 5-2 and keep pace with the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North.

Amid rumors that Pittsburgh Steelers veteran Russell Wilson is in line to take over as the starting quarterback for Sunday night's game against the New York Jets, Justin Fields provided an interesting perspective when asked about the possibility of being replaced.

"I don't think I played good enough, if I'm being real with you," Fields said Thursday, per ESPN's Brooke Pryor. "If I'm being real with myself, I think if I did play well enough, I don't think there would be any sort of who should be playing, who should not."

Justin Fields very candid today: “I don’t think I played good enough if I’m being real with you.

“If I’m being real with myself, if I did play well enough, I don’t think there would be any sort of (question) who should be playing who should not.” pic.twitter.com/8eW7hH75f6

— Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) October 17, 2024

Fields was thrust into the starting role when Wilson reaggravated a calf injury near the end of training camp. The 25-year-old has led the Steelers to a 4-2 start, completing a career-high 66.3 percent of his passes for 1,106 yards, five touchdowns and one interception while also rushing for 231 yards and five more scores. He helped Pittsburgh bounce back from back-to-back losses by rushing for two touchdowns in a 32-13 win over the Las Vegas Raiders this past Sunday.

Still, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin never fully committed to Fields as the full-time starter, leaving the door open for Wilson to take over once he got healthy. The 35-year-old took first-team reps in Wednesday's practice, fueling the belief that he will make his return this week.

Despite his impressive performance this year, Fields revealed that he wasn't satisfied. The fourth-year signal-caller is set to be a free agent at the end of this season.

"Not really," he replied when asked if he got what he wanted out of those six starts. "I mean, I want to be 6-0 right now, but it was a great opportunity for me. Of course, I'm grateful for the opportunity. I did get those first six weeks, and we'll just see what happens."

It's a mature approach, but it sounds like Fields will be watching from the bench as the Steelers face the Jets on Sunday Night Football.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are 4-2 and tied for first place in the AFC North, but they could make a drastic change at quarterback going into Sunday's game against the New York Jets.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Tuesday that Pittsburgh will give quarterback Russell Wilson first-team reps in practice leading up to the game he is "in line" to play. Wilson has been sidelined by a calf injury that is now "fully healed," but Justin Fields has played well in his place.

ESPN's Brooke Pryor noted both signal-callers will practice Wednesday with head coach Mike Tomlin saying Wilson remains in "consideration" for the Jets game.

On the surface, Wilson has the better overall resume between the two quarterbacks.

He is a nine-time Pro Bowler who won a Super Bowl during his time on the Seattle Seahawks, while Fields never fully lived up to expectations with the Chicago Bears after they selected him with a first-round pick in 2021.

However, Wilson was just 11-19 as a starter during the past two seasons with the Denver Broncos and didn't look like the same quarterback who was so impressive in Seattle. He also turns 36 years old next month and is nowhere as mobile as Fields.

Fields' running and ability to escape pressure and keep plays alive has been key for the Steelers this season, as he has 231 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.

The biggest question surrounding the Ohio State product has always been about his passing accuracy, but his completion percentage of 66.3 this season would be a career-high mark. He has also thrown for 1,106 yards, five touchdowns and one interception through six games.

JUSTIN FIELDS TO CALVIN AUSTIN III. 55-YARD TD.

📺: #LACvsPIT on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/IyvXrXm1pU

— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2024

Fields has done all this while working in an offense that is not exactly loaded with playmakers. George Pickens is the only wide receiver with more than 10 catches, and there have even been question marks surrounding him to this point of the season.

After all, he saw reduced snaps and was fined for an explicit message on his eye black during a game against the Dallas Cowboys. What's more, Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported he "has shown up late for work on multiple occasions this season."

Despite all of that, Fields has the Steelers at 4-2 and right in the middle of the early playoff picture.

Yet that might not be enough to keep his starting job with Wilson lingering as another option.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris kept it simple when discussing the team's offensive success during a blowout 32-13 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.

"It was just one of those games where s--t started working good," Harris said after the game, per ESPN's Brooke Pryor.

The 26-year-old picked up a season-high 106 yards on 14 carries against the Raiders, registering his first touchdown of the year with a 36-yard score in the third quarter.

NAJEE HARRIS ARE YOU SERIOUS!?

📺: #PITvsLV on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/6uP3rKdzdD

— NFL (@NFL) October 13, 2024

The Steelers recorded 183 rush yards as a team with Harris leading the way, representing their best mark of the 2024 season through six weeks.

Justin Fields also helped Pittsburgh's run game succeed, adding 59 yards on the ground to go along with two trips to the end zone. He finished 14-of-24 for 145 yards through the air without recording a passing touchdown or an interception.

The fake. The run. The score.

Justin Fields takes it himself to extend the @Steelers lead!

📺: #PITvsLV on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/qjlIx1oZKG

— NFL (@NFL) October 13, 2024

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was pleased with the collective effort from Harris and Fields as well as the team's blocking up front.

"Not only the bigs but the perimeter people, and obviously Naj and everyone else, but I just thought anytime you have a run output like that, it's not an individual, it is a collective," Tomlin said, via Pryor. "That breakout run, I think [Pat Freiermuth] sealed the corner and allowed him to go. When I look at it, I just felt the collective energy and effort that was necessary."

Pittsburgh opened the year with a 3-0 record despite some low-scoring performances, but the offense's struggles were highlighted after Tomlin's squad lost two consecutive games. The Steelers were averaging just 18.4 points per game entering their matchup with the Raiders, failing to score more than 20 points in four of their first five contests.

Harris will look to continue the momentum during Pittsburgh's Week 7 matchup with the New York Jets, going up against a Jets defense that's allowing 119.2 rush yards per game.