Who will start at quarterback for the Steelers in Week 6? Russell Wilson or Justin Fields?
There’s a curious situation brewing in Pittsburgh. The starting quarterback is now the backup and the backup is now the starting quarterback. What gives?
Regardless of where one stands, some degree of sympathy can be given to the Steelers’ starting quarterback who hasn’t seen a snap with his new team since joining it. Who could have guessed that the team’s No. 2 would step up in such a big way?
Russell Wilson to serve as backup to Justin Fields in Week 6
According to Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin’s comments on Friday, quarterback Justin Fields is set to start for the team on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders, with veteran signal-caller Russell Wilson dressing and serving as Fields’s backup.
The news is of course confirmation of what has been suspected would be the case, after a series of impressive performances by Fields, who has started every game for the Steelers so far this season. Where Wilson is concerned, the Super Bowl winner has been recovering from a calf injury that he suffered in training camp.
The good news is that Wilson was a full participant in practice this week for the first time this season, but again, Fields has simply been too good to be sidelined here and now. Could that change? We shall see. As for the team itself, despite Fields’ solid start, the team currently sits on a record of 3-2 which means things aren’t bad but they aren’t great. Across the five games that he has started in the No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 Draft has completed 67.6% of his passes for 961 yards and five touchdowns with one interception.
At this point, it remains to be seen if and how Wilson will reclaim his starting spot, but at the very least the Steelers and their fans can take comfort in the fact that he now appears to be fit enough to compete for it. On the other hand, the plus here is that Fields will know that very well, such that we can expect to see the 25-year-old giving everything he can to keep his spot, as the team looks to improve on what is a less-than-ideal record. Either way, the Steelers dance with the Raiders will kick off on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET in Las Vegas. Don’t miss it.
See also: Week 6 NFL injury round-up