Mike Tomlin Holds Off on Naming Justin Fields as Full-Time Starter, For Now
Pittsburgh, PA (September 29, 2024) – Despite Justin Fields leading the Pittsburgh Steelers to an undefeated start this season, head coach Mike Tomlin is not rushing to name him the team’s full-time starting quarterback. Fields will once again start in place of the injured Russell Wilson when the Steelers (3-0) take on the Indianapolis Colts (1-2) on Sunday, but Tomlin remains noncommittal about the long-term situation.
Wilson, who aggravated a calf injury just before the season opener, continues to rehab but will be limited in practice this week. Although Tomlin acknowledged Wilson’s competitive spirit, he emphasized the need for the 35-year-old quarterback to fully recover before any decision about his return is made.
“When Russ gets to an appropriate point of health and we have a decision to make, I’ll make it and I’ll announce it and I’ll be really transparent about it,” Tomlin said on Tuesday.
Wilson, a nine-time Pro Bowler, joined the Steelers on a one-year deal in March after being released by the Denver Broncos. He initially won the starting job during training camp, but his injury days before Week 1 forced the Steelers to turn to Fields. Since stepping in, Fields has been impressive, steadily improving with each game. In Pittsburgh’s Week 3 win against the Los Angeles Chargers, Fields completed 25 of 32 passes for 245 yards, throwing one touchdown and one interception, helping the Steelers secure their best start since 2020.
“He’s steady, he’s a competitor,” Tomlin said of Fields. “He doesn’t turn down things. He’s aggressive in play, scrambling and so forth. It’s just been fun to get to know him as a competitor.”
While Wilson’s return remains uncertain, Tomlin stressed that the veteran must meet several physical and performance benchmarks before being considered for a return.
“We’ll know when we get there,” Tomlin said when asked about Wilson’s timeline. “He’ll not only be healthy in terms of keeping himself safe, but he’ll be healthy in terms of being able to be productive and do the things that he needs to do and we need him to do.”
As the Steelers prepare for Week 4, Fields will have another chance to prove himself in Indianapolis. Whether his strong play will force Tomlin to make a tough decision when Wilson is fully healthy remains to be seen. For now, the Steelers continue to ride the wave of their early-season success with Fields at the helm.
