The Steelers played it safe with Russell Wilson‘s calf injury in Week 1, turning the offense over to Justin Fields at quarterback. The latter is in line to start once again, although he has ground to make up in terms of moving to the top of the depth chart. 
ESPN’s Dan Graziano reports Fields is expected to get the start for Pittsburgh’s Week 2 matchup against the Broncos. That comes as no surprise given head coach Mike Tomlin‘s remarks from earlier in the week. Tomlin confirmed the team is proceeding with the expectation Fields will again get the nod as Wilson attempts to ramp up his participation in practice.
Fields – acquired via trade from the Bears in the offseason shortly after Wilson was signed – did not have an impactful statistical showing in Pittsburgh’s win over the Falcons to begin the campaign. The 25-year-old totaled only 156 passing yards, but he added 57 rushing yards and did not commit any turnovers. Six field goals were sufficient for the Steelers to win on Sunday, but team and player will be hoping for a better showing on Fields’ part if he plays again against the Broncos.
Wilson’s recovery after aggravating the calf injury which cost him training camp time will still be worth watching closely, however. The nine-time Pro Bowler was tapped as Pittsburgh’s starter after an offseason in which neither passer stood out against the other. As Graziano’s colleague Jeremy Fowler adds, Wilson is still likely to assume QB1 duties once he returns to full health. That also matches what Tomlin said earlier this week when addressing the quarterback situation.
As pending free agents, both Wilson and Fields are in a unique situation for 2024. The Steelers completely rebuilt their QB room during the spring while moving on from 2022 first-rounder Kenny Pickett. Wilson’s command of the offense, Fowler notes, is one of the factors which has given him an edge to date as the projected starter. Fields gained support during training camp and the preseason, however, so he could gain further momentum with a strong showing against Denver provided Wilson remains sidelined.
Practice over the coming days will no doubt offer more clarity on how Pittsburgh will proceed under center against the Broncos, and it would be surprising if the team attempted to rush Wilson back into action in short order. The 35-year-old should still be expected to take the field at some point relatively soon, though.
Steelers locker room mutiny when?
Say what you want about Mike Tomlin but he is one of the best at handling disgruntled players and those with egos. Big Ben, James Harrison, Antonio Brown and L’Veon Bell just to name a few. I don’t think you will ever see a mutiny on his watch.
Sure, but if the locker room really does prefer the younger Fields over the aging and declining Wilson, can even he dissuade them from disagreeing with him?
I mean, I’n in the locker room so you might very well have a point, but it’s not like Fields did much to inspire confidence last Sunday. He made some truly awful throws and couldn’t handle the snap on many occasions in the Falcons game. A couple of great plays by Pickens and Freiermuth helped his stats vociferously, but I think that Najee Harris’ reaction on Fields’ first miss of the night might become more of the norm if Fields remains the same. Wilson might inspire similar frustration, but I don’t think that Fields is holding him off with his play alone after Sunday’s game.
However, in spite of all that, he may yet not h a victory against Denver. The Broncos’ defense looks much tougher after one week than Atlanta’s does, though, in their respective states. The Steelers are going to want to pound the ball to keep Fields from throwing too much, and though the Seahawks had just a catastrophic day blocking, Denver seems to have a much better pressure ability than Atlanta right now. We know that the Falcons have a great safety tandem, but Simmons and especially Bates looked pretty rusty in that game. The Broncos defense, in my opinion, is a much better unit right now.
The advantage for Fields is that Bo Nix looked just horrendous in the Seahawks game-he was basically doing every single thing that he did wrong at Auburn but got away with at Oregon-throwing off platform, missing good reads, forcing terrible throws into coverage, scrambling into negative plays (out of bounds, even, instead if throwing it away)-and as such, the Steelers have a chance to get good field position and wear down the Broncos to a win. Denver foolishly cut Perine for two redundant scat backs in McLaughlin and Watson, and Estime will be out, so their depth is suspect there at the moment. I’m not sure who is going to be a pass blocking back for Nix, who is already jittery under pressure, and will be facing the league’s best edge duo in Highsmith and Watt (Watt honestly was robbed out of at least one sack in the Falcons game).
I think chances are high that this could be a short field, messy game that could result in an a low output offensive performance for either or both teams, but that the Steelers could ultimately win. As for Fields? Well, even if he doesn’t personally look good, he would benefit from any wins to keep the job. Who knows, those short fields may result in several touchdowns in the best case.
I’d say he lost the AB and Bell babysitting jobs in the long run. A lot of talent with no actual results, too, unless you’re into the winning record streak.
Mike Tomlin is the reason why the Steelers offense has sucked since Baconburgher retired. No over the middle throws..all don’t turnover the ball at all costs .his hand prints are all over the offense. Sad to say as long as this guy is coach, you can settle for a boring offense and a lot of close games, win or lise
This was in Chicago, but still, worth noting Fields had himself a game against Denver last season?
Denver is bad too
boswell’s ready to kick another six
Did people ever stop and think that the reason Steeler QBs have posted dismal statistics since Ben Baconburgher retired?
It’s because Tomlin wants a style of protect the ball at all costs, no turnovers. Then he wants to rely on defense. That’s why Pickett’s numbers were dismal. Also Canada was an idiot. The Steelers version of Moron Shelton.
So tomlin is 85%of the blame….rest is bad QBs.
Here’s hoping they let Fields open it up
Can’t stand Tomlin. Plays ugly football and it works more often than not against my Ravens.
Mike Tomlin has a career record of 182-110 in the NFL. What exactly are you blaming him for?
Can’t win in the playoffs…no super bowl appearance since 2010…want more?
Sounds like sour grapes. Tomlin a very well respected NFL coach. Not turning the ball over and playing good defense wins games. You’ll see what you get in Fields.
This will be interesting if Fields has a decent showing against the Broncos. If they start Wilson the next week, he’ll have a short leash.
F the Steelers
That’s uncalled for.
It is but I’m salty lmao
Cousins still obviously broken
Yeah no excuse he still played dogwater
Looking more and more like Chicago’s gonna end up getting a 4th rd pick for Fields.
Pittsburgh hasn’t had a stable QB position since Roethlisberger retired, thus nothing about the Fields/Wilson situation is unfamiliar. Given that neither of them is under contract for next year likely means the same situation will happen again in 2025.
No political views in sports…do you realize that with a election in less than 2 months, probably the most important in history…you don’t care???? You better care, because if the WEIRD ORANGE one wins …you can kiss a lot of professional sports goodbye
Now that comment hands down wins the dumbest comment of the year!
Plus 3. Is that your bra size???
You had Big Ben for a long time and are now suffering like most of the NFL for the next great QB. With Tomlin you’re in games and not getting blown out. Even made the playoffs. Nothing to complain about.
Ben Baconburgher and Gail Rodgers were prima donnas. Both couldn’t win the big game after the 2011 Superbowl. Baconburgher had all the offensive talent for years and he couldn’t WIN. Same goes for Tomlin. And what Baconburgher did after the Steelers drafted Rudolph was a shame.By not helping Rudolph,when Baconburgher was at the end of his career. And in all those years he was never chosen team MVP. That says a lot about Baconburghers teammates, they really didn’t care for him. Baconburgher set the Steelers back 5 years with his selfishness.
And making the playoffs in Pittsburgh isn’t enough. You need to win in the playoffs…something Baconburgher and Tomlin failed to do.
So much to dissect here. So they won a SB but you’re mad they didn’t win more? Rudolph is a grown man and had a coaching staff. Not sure why you’d expect Ben to mentor him. Who mentored Ben? No one. That’s really more of a media narrative than a reality thing. Be glad you had (and still have) a competitive NFL team for decades. That’s a luxury many NFL fans don’t have. Maybe you think PITTS should win the SB every year. Most teams don’t. In the ups and downs of the NFL most teams haven’t been as consistent as PITTS. And sorry you don’t have the next best QB, most NFL teams don’t either. If you didn’t have Tomlin, odds are your team would’ve hit the NFL basement already, buy they haven’t. Be happy for what you have.
Gotta give Tomlin & CO credit for realizing how much of a disaster playing Russ @ Denver would’ve been. Still disappointed as a Broncos fan.
As long as the Steelers don’t get behind by more than 7 points Fields will be fine. Don’t expect him to generate any type of comebacks.
Hey plus 3 Xtra large ..it’s Pittsburgh not Pitts. I doubt that you are from Pittsburgh or live in Pittsburgh. If you did or do. You would see the stagnation of the Steelers by Tomlin. People don’t want 9-8 teams. They want winners. Making the playoffs is nothing anymore. Almost half the NFL teams make the playoffs. And no Baconburgher had no obligation to mentor Rudolph, but other great players at the end of their careers helped mentor their eventual replacement. That’s the difference between a legend and in Baconburghers case….a prima donna egostistical overated player. So I’m guessing you think having a 9-8 record every year and if they make the playoffs,get blown out,is ok. Well to the people in Pittsburgh, IT ISN’T ok. So plus 3 Xtra large,put your 3xtra large moomoo on and relax
Oh and another thing moomoo man. If you abreviate Pittsburgh. It’s PGH, not PITTS. Got it!