Why won’t Steelers coach Mike Tomlin name Justin Fields the starting quarterback?
The Steelers coach has remained tight-lipped about who will take on the role of starting quarterback for the team which has only increased speculation.
One would think that with a 3-0 record, the decision as to who starts under center would have effectively made itself. Yet, that appears to be the luxury that the Steelers are enjoying now, as they wait for the previous starter to recover from injury while his backup leads the way.
Mike Tomlin isn’t going with Justin Fields...yet
On Sunday evening, the Pittsburgh Steelers took down the Los Angeles Chargers to take the team’s record to 3-0 on the season so far, making them one of only five teams in the league to maintain a perfect record at this point. Now, while the result was commendable in itself, it was interesting to note that the man in the middle was once again quarterback Justin Fields whose efforts have brought the team three consecutive victories.
That of course brings us to Tuesday when Tomlin was asked whether Fields would now be the team’s starter. Tomlin declined to answer, stating instead that it was not necessary to name Fields as the starting quarterback with fellow signal caller Russell Wilson still not healthy enough to return. “When Russ gets to an appropriate point of health” was Tomlin’s response, explaining the point at which he will make the decision. An interesting choice of words, to say the least, and a choice that is perhaps a nice headache to have.
As for Fields himself, the former Chicago Bears quarterback has been much improved in his first season with the Steelers. Indeed, Fields has completed 73.3% of his passes for 518 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception which appear to be numbers that are more befitting of a former first-round pick. Yet, there is one point to be noted: As much as Fields has spearheaded wins against the Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, and most recently the Chargers, he has done so while the team has averaged just 17 points per game.
That figure will need to increase if the team is to build on its promising start. To that end, the luxury of having Wilson in waiting can’t be understated. That the Steelers are where they are without the player - a Super Bowl winner - that the team acquired to start is a major plus. Ultimately, like Tomlin, all we can do is wait and see.