Justin Fields knows how football works, especially as a quarterback. When the top player gets injured, the backup comes in and performs well, which can create controversy and debates about who should start.
Fields wants to avoid this drama. After his mistake-free performance filling in for an injured Russell Wilson last week in Atlanta, Fields just wants to focus on helping the team win.
Fields did well against the Falcons and is looking to continue that success as the Steelers (1-0) head to Denver (0-1) on Sunday.
Pittsburgh’s game was expected to feature Wilson against his old team, the Broncos, who let him go in March, costing them a lot of money. However, instead of Wilson, who is still recovering from a calf injury, Fields will start.
While one story fades, another could be emerging. Fields impressed Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith against the Falcons.
He avoided mistakes, connected with receiver George Pickens, and used his legs effectively to convert key third downs. One crucial play late in the fourth quarter saw him gain 7 yards on a third-and-5, which helped set up Chris Boswell’s sixth field goal of the game.
As a young quarterback in a new situation, handling Week 1 and a sudden change late in the game, Smith thought Fields did really well.
None of the key people involved—Fields, Smith, or Tomlin—are rushing to make long-term decisions. Tomlin dismissed a question about whether Wilson will start over Fields when the 35-year-old Super Bowl winner is ready to play.
“I’m not going to soothe you with hypothetical scenarios,” Tomlin said.
If Fields has another strong game and the Steelers win in Denver for the first time in 15 years, the debate over the quarterback position—which has been unstable since Ben Roethlisberger retired in January 2022—will likely become even more intense.
Fields, who joined the Steelers in March to try to restart his career after a challenging time in Chicago, is focused on ignoring the distractions.
He handled being second to Wilson in the quarterback competition during training camp well, and his approach remains steady despite the changing circumstances. He praised Wilson for helping him get to know Denver’s team, calling Wilson “great.”
Wilson, who is used to playing through injuries, understands that Tomlin and the training staff are being cautious. Wilson participated in practice on Thursday, preparing mentally by standing behind Fields and Kyle Allen, mimicking plays and making “all the throws,” a routine he follows when he can’t play.
Even so, watching from the sideline while Fields takes the field with the starters isn’t easy for Wilson. He has built “cool relationships” with some former Broncos teammates, like wide receiver Courtland Sutton and tackle Garrett Bolles.
Wilson is still using his knowledge of Denver to help Fields. Fields said Wilson has provided valuable insights about the players and their playing style, and has been very helpful since he arrived.
Wilson often reminds everyone that it’s a long season. Since the NFL extended the schedule to 17 games in 2021, no Steelers quarterback has played every game. It’s likely that 2024 will be the same.
For now, the offense depends on 25-year-old Fields, who has shown he might have what it takes to make the Steelers strong in a competitive AFC North. Fields knows there’s more to be done, especially getting the team into the end zone instead of just kicking field goals, as they did in Atlanta.
“I think the only thing that we have to do is stop shooting ourselves in the foot, stop with the penalties, and stay on schedule, and that’s when those touchdowns start rolling in,” Fields said.
Pittsburgh might only need one or two touchdowns if the defense, led by T.J. Watt, performs as well as it did against Atlanta. If the Steelers win, the calls for Fields to be the starter over an even-healthy Wilson will likely increase.
It would be a good problem for a team that hasn’t been 2-0 since 2020. Fields isn’t taking anything for granted, and neither is Smith, who praised Fields for looking confident despite being new to the system and finding a way to win.
“That’s what the great players do,” Smith said. “And so that was a step in the right direction.”
