Coach Mike Tomlin’s offseason treatment of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback situation suggested the randomness of a roulette wheel.
Round and round the outcast veteran ball goes; where it stops, nobody knows.
Steelers fans who had Justin Fields as the uninterrupted, season-long starter entering a Week 6 visit to Las Vegas should claim their winnings at the betting website or window if they haven’t already.
Those who wagered on Fields warding off Russell Wilson for longer may have to hold their breaths with Wilson now active. But really, Tomlin should keep rolling with Fields and his hot—or at least tepid—hand. He’s the better long-term solution than a rusty Wilson.
A calf injury in preseason slowed Wilson, to be sure, affording more opportunities and reps to Fields in a QB race for which Tomlin first said Wilson had “pole position.” Although it appeared Wilson had fully recovered by the end of camp, he reaggravated the injury days ahead of the season opener at Atlanta.
In stepped Fields, who steered an efficient attack to lead Pittsburgh to victory in his home state. He completed 73.9 percent of his passes for 156 yards and added 57 more yards on the ground.
Pittsburgh won in Denver the following week and dispatched of the visiting Los Angeles Chargers the next, with Fields passing for touchdowns in both games. He added a rushing TD against the Chargers.
The Steelers enter Sunday on a two-game losing streak, and yes, Fields played sloppily in their most recent defeat.
His 15-for-27 effort against the Dallas Cowboys was his lowest completion rate of the season. Fields passed for 131 yards and two touchdowns in a 20-17 home loss as the offense gained just 226 yards, even with Dallas without injured defenders DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons.
“I think the recurring thing is just shooting ourselves in the foot,” Fields said. “Penalties, false starts. It’s just coming down to execution.”
Pittsburgh’s dependability on defense has helped the ‘O’ buy time. The unit yields the third-fewest points (14.6) and eighth-fewest yards (298.0) per game in the NFL.
Tomlin has said this week he prefers not to deal in hypotheticals, but here’s an undeniable one: Pittsburgh figured to be a ‘D’-first operation this season no matter who was under center.
Has Fields been dazzling? Far from it. But he’s shown his mobility to keep plays alive and been good enough to keep the Steelers competitive, their losses coming by a combined six points as the team’s outlook trends upward.
Running back Jaylen Warren (knee), who missed the past two games, was removed from Pittsburgh’s injury report Saturday. The Steelers also expect to bolster their depth at wide receiver, with third-round draft pick Roman Wilson set to make his debut after suffering a sprained ankle early in training camp.
The stable of offensive stars Fields has at his disposal in Pittsburgh might not rival what the Chicago front office acquired after his departure from the Bears. Still, even with Wilson now looking over his shoulder more than ever, Fields truly hasn’t played his way out of the starting job.
After the visit to Vegas, winnable prime-time home games against the New York Jets and Giants, respectively, await. Then there’s a bye.
Pittsburgh won’t face a fellow NFC North foe until the Baltimore Ravens come to town in Week 11.
Fields reasonably can keep the team in the division race ahead of that clash without Steelers fans blowing on dice.
