Russell Wilson 'in consideration' to take over at QB for Steelers in Week 7

Ray Fittipaldo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Oct 15, 2024

Published in Football

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

PITTSBURGH — Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is contemplating a change at quarterback this week as the Steelers prepare to play host to the New York Jets on Sunday night. Russell Wilson, after a calf injury marred his first three months with the team, is in consideration to take over as the starter.

Wilson went through a full week of practice last week and served as the backup to Justin Fields in the team's 32-13 victory against the Raiders in Las Vegas. He had been inactive for the first five games of the season and had only served as the emergency quarterback after he injured his calf in late July.

Fields is coming off his worst performance of the season against the Raiders. He completed 14 passes for 145 yards and no touchdowns. He threw an interception that was nullified by a roughing the passer penalty and missed several open receivers throughout the game. Fields also leads the NFL in fumbles in six.

"Justin has been really good, and we've been really good at times, but not to be confused with great," Tomlin said Tuesday afternoon at his weekly news conference. "This is a competitive league, man. We're trying to position ourselves to be that team. We got a player with talent who hasn't had an opportunity to play, so we're going to potentially explore those things.

"It doesn't necessarily have anything to do with what Justin has done or not done. Justin has been an asset to us. Last week, his ability to utilize his legs by design and ad-lib was a significant component of that game. We're appreciative of that and how he has taken care of the ball, but we're just looking at all the people at our disposal the same way we do at any position."

Wilson and Fields were acquired in the spring. Wilson was signed as a free agent, while Fields arrived in a trade with Chicago for a sixth-round draft pick. At the time Fields was acquired, Tomlin said Wilson had "pole position" for the starting job.

Fields led the Steelers to a 4-2 record in his first six starts. He has completed 66% of his passes for 1,106 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. He has rushed for 231 yards and leads all quarterbacks with five rushing touchdowns.

On the injury front, rookie center Zach Frazier will not play against the Jets due to the ankle injury he suffered in the Raiders game. Ryan McCollum will start in his place. Nick Herbig (hamstring) also will not play.

Alex Highsmith (groin), Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle), Damontae Kazee (ankle) and MyCole Pruitt (knee) are questionable to begin the week.

What he said: "He's a high-intensity guy who is a heck of a communicator, who is mature beyond his years. I think that's why we're all comfortable continuing to operate the way we operated a week ago. That's why we're excited about the opportunity there is for him. There are always two sides to the injury coin. I always try to make the point to our team regarding it. We can waste a lot of time talking about the people who aren't at our disposal. We're doing a disservice to the capable men who are getting elevated and getting an opportunity to show they are capable to put their hand in the pile and contribute." Tomlin on McCollum.

Our take: The Steelers are on their third center this season. They lost Nate Herbig for the season in training camp, and now Frazier is considered week-to-week, according to Tomlin. Frazier had been the Steelers' best offensive lineman in the first six games of the season. Now McCollum steps into the void. The last time he started a game was as a rookie with the Lions in 2021.

Up next: The Steelers play host to the Jets on "Sunday Night Football." Kickoff is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET. The Steelers lead the all-time series, 20-7, but the Jets have won the past two meetings, including a 24-20 victory at Acrisure Stadium in 2022. That was the Jets' first victory in Pittsburgh since December of 2010. Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is in his 20th NFL season, but he's only played against the Steelers three times. He lost to the Steelers in 2009 in Pittsburgh, but he beat the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV and in a 2021 regular-season game in Green Bay when he still played for the Packers.