The Steelers are sticking with their current quarterback, trusting that stability will bring better results as the season progresses.
The Pittsburgh Steelers locker room appears to be calm, with the team sitting at a strong 4-2. Spirits are high, and there’s optimism about the future. When speaking with the players, there’s no hint of unrest, despite a significant shake-up in the starting lineup.
However, one NFL insider suggests that not everyone in the building agrees with head coach Mike Tomlin’s recent decision.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, some within the Steelers organization feel that the team shouldn’t be making a quarterback switch after Justin Fields led them to this successful start.
“There are a ton of people in that place right now that feel like Russell Wilson would limit them on offense in a way that Justin Fields does not,” Breer said on the Rich Eisen Show. “Which I think is a big part of the reason why so many people there just wish that Tomlin would stick with Fields.”
Wilson has already taken over first-team reps in his return to practice, signaling he’ll likely be the starter in Week 7 against the New York Jets. While Tomlin has the final say and appears to have been waiting for Wilson’s return to make this move, there’s still plenty of pushback within the organization.
“I think [Fields is] doing enough,” former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said on his podcast. “You saw with his legs especially, making things happen, creating. And not necessarily this time wasn’t designed quarterback runs. It was him extending a play, stepping up in the pocket, and just keeping the play alive.”
“I thought he played well … I just think what you’re gonna get from Russ is more pocket presence to throw the ball down the field, but you’re not gonna get that extend the play like Justin does because he’s a running back out there when he decides to run.”
Even Tomlin admits Fields has been performing well, but he’s looking for the team to reach the next level.
“Justin [Fields] has been really good, and we’ve been really good at times, but not to be confused with great,” Tomlin said. “This is a competitive league, man. We’re trying to position ourselves to be that team, and we got a player with talent who hadn’t had an opportunity to play, so we’re going to potentially explore those things. Sometimes it doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with what Justin has done or has not done. Justin has been an asset to us.“
While an official announcement is still pending, it’s expected that Wilson will take over as the starting quarterback. How this decision impacts the team’s performance in the coming weeks will likely determine whether the current internal disagreements settle down or escalate further.
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