The Pittsburgh Steelers have been one of the surprises of the NFL this season. Currently 8-2 and alone atop the AFC North, the Steelers are well-positioned to perhaps win their first playoff game since 2016. A big part of their success has been a rejuvenated Russell Wilson, who is playing his best football since 2020. But it didn’t start out that way.
Justin Fields opened the season as the starter and played quite well, leading the Steelers to a 4-2 record. Yet, he was still replaced by Wilson. How did this all play out?
What Happened to Justin Fields?
After deploying some of the worst quarterbacks the NFL has ever seen in the post-Ben Roethlisberger era, the Pittsburgh Steelers completely revamped their QB room this past offseason. All three quarterbacks to make starts last season (Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, and Mason Rudolph) were replaced by Justin Fields and Russell Wilson (with Kyle Allen as the QB3).
The two quarterbacks to make starts for the Steelers this season had a legitimate competition throughout training camp, with Wilson being named the starter in late August. Unfortunately, Wilson aggravated an early training camp calf injury that lingered longer than expected.
Initially, Fields was only expected to start a game or two. As the season wore on and Wilson couldn’t get healthy, it sure seemed as though the Steelers were using Wilson’s injury as a way to say Fields had played well enough to be the starter going forward without having to formally announce anything.
It’s important to note that as well as Fields was playing, at no point did head coach Mike Tomlin ever commit to Fields as the starter. Whenever he was asked about it, he would deflect.
Mike Tomlin on why he is not naming Justin Fields QB1 right now: "Because there's no need. You know, I explained to you the variables of the week. It has not changed. He's gonna walk in this building with that mindset tomorrow. And so, I really, there's no need to. Sometimes in…
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) September 24, 2024
Just about everyone in the football world expected Fields to remain the starter as long as he played well.
Through the first six games of the season, Fields threw for five touchdowns, ran for five more, and turned the ball over just twice. By no means was the offense prolific, but Fields certainly played well enough to keep the starting job. Yet, the moment Wilson was healthy enough to play, Tomlin benched Fields.
It was a move criticized by many, including me. Fields was protecting the football and allowing the Steelers to win games. They had just blown out the Raiders the week prior to Fields losing his job. In that game, Fields threw for 145 yards with no interceptions, while running for 59 yards and two touchdowns.
The notion that Wilson was never going to get a chance was absurd. Fields would’ve had to play flawless football for Tomlin not to have any reason to turn to Wilson at some point. But for Tomlin to make the move after such a decisive victory where Fields played so well was a shocker.
One month later, I and many others owe Tomlin an apology. Sorry, coach! You were right.
Russell Wilson Gives the Steelers’ Offense a Different Element
Wilson’s 2024 debut got off to a disastrous start. However, that initial rust quickly subsided, and Wilson’s path to proving his head coach correct began.
The Steelers are 4-0 since Wilson displaced Fields as the starter. It didn’t take long for Wilson to prove that while the team could undoubtedly still be successful under Fields, Wilson gives the offense more upside than Fields offers. Just look at the results.
With Fields, the Steelers averaged a respectable 20.6 points per game — that has spiked to 27.25 under Wilson. WR George Pickens went from averaging 60.5 receiving yards per game with Fields to 91.25 with Wilson. The reality is Wilson is capable of making throws that Fields cannot.
FIRST TD AS A STEELER!!!!!!!!
📲 Stream on NFL+: https://t.co/COxKRnr6Mc pic.twitter.com/qaxvtHNvcM
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) November 10, 2024
While Fields is the more dynamic runner with an escapability Wilson no longer possesses, the upside Wilson offers with his arm more than makes up for it.
With a win over the Browns on Thursday night, the Steelers will essentially be one win away from clinching a playoff spot. Given that they already beat the Baltimore Ravens once, at this point, they have to be considered the favorite to win the AFC North.