Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has finally admitted that he will have to make a quarterback selection in Week 7 with Russell Wilson fully healthy and ready to go — and Justin Fields may have played his final game as the starting quarterback despite a 4-2 start.
With that in mind, and following a stressful afternoon in the Steelers community on, Fields posted publicly on Instagram. And, while his tweet did not reveal his thoughts on the prospective QB transition mentioned by NFL Network source Tom Pelissero a few hours earlier, Fields addressed his followers nonetheless.
“God is good.” “Great team dub, 💫.” Fields followed Wilson’s lead and wrote on Instagram on Tuesday evening. The article also featured photographs from the Week 6 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Justin Fields’ supporters and fans quickly took notice of recent developments concerning his position as the Steelers’ starting quarterback. Many fans expressed their support on social media, with one comment reading “QB1” and another saying, “You my QB1 regardless.” There was even a call from one fan for “Steeler Nation” to embrace Fields as the team’s top quarterback.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin addressed the situation during an October 15 press conference, stating that a potential switch to Russell Wilson as the starting quarterback would not necessarily be a reflection on Fields’ performance.
“Sometimes it doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with what Justin has done or has not done,” Tomlin said. “Justin has been an asset to us.” He highlighted Fields’ recent contributions, such as rushing for over 50 yards and scoring two touchdowns in the previous game, while also protecting the ball well.
Tomlin made it clear that while Fields has performed admirably, the team is still evaluating all of their options at quarterback. He emphasized that Wilson’s potential should not be overlooked without giving him a chance to run the offense. “Justin has been really good, but not to be confused with great,” Tomlin explained. “We’re trying to position ourselves to be that team, and we got a player [in Wilson] with talent who hadn’t had an opportunity to play.”
Tomlin also acknowledged Fields’ mobility as a key factor, admitting that Fields’ legs are an “X factor” that sets him apart. With Pittsburgh’s offensive line dealing with injuries, some are concerned about how Wilson, who lacks Fields’ mobility, would fare behind a shaky line. The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo pointed out on social media that Wilson has led the league in sacks taken twice in the last five years, which could be a risk as he returns from a calf injury, especially against a Jets defense with 20 sacks and a high pressure rate.
The Steelers’ decision on who starts at quarterback for their Week 7 matchup against the New York Jets will likely hinge on how the offensive line performs in practice. If the line continues to struggle, Fields’ mobility may give him the edge to remain the starter for at least another game. Tomlin indicated that the team will finalize its quarterback decision closer to game time as they weigh all factors leading up to the Sunday Night Football showdown.
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