PITTSBURGH — Russell Wilson and Justin Fields said all the right things Thursday night. Chalk it up to veteran quarterback savvy following an ugly loss.

It would only be natural if Wilson and Fields privately have stronger feelings about how they're being used in the aftermath of the 24-19 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Professional athletes don't ascend to such heights by being spectators. They want to be the man in the arena.

That's especially true for quarterbacks. They handle the ball on every play, and it was Wilson who had the ball in his hands the most Thursday night. He played 62 of the 69 snaps, but late in the fourth quarter he was on the sidelines watching the critical moments of the game unfold without him.

Immediately after Donte Jackson intercepted Jameis Winston with 4:22 remaining, Wilson had one thought in mind: "I was like, 'OK let's close this out.'"

And Wilson, who was 18-for-22 passing to that point of the game, didn't get a chance to throw one pass on the crucial three-and-out series.

On first down, he handed off to Najee Harris, who gained three yards. Then offensive coordinator Arthur Smith pulled Wilson from the game and sent Fields into the huddle.

On second down, Fields handed off again to Harris setting up a third-and-4. Smith kept Fields in the game and called a pass on third-and-4.

It would be his first and only pass attempt of the game — a 50-50 deep ball to George Pickens that fell incomplete.

Not only had Wilson completed 82% of his passes, he had just gone 3 for 3 on the Steelers' two fourth-quarter touchdown drives, including a 23-yard pass to Calvin Austin on third-and-6 for the go-ahead score after he stood in the pocket and took a big hit upon releasing the ball.

"We all try to make plays," said Wilson, when asked if he was surprised he wasn't in the game. "Obviously we have trust in Justin in what he can do and is capable of. I always want to be in there. That's the competitor in me. But at the same time we have great trust in Justin and the coaches."

The Steelers used Fields in a similar situation against the Ravens four days earlier in an 18-16 victory. Fields entered the game and helped the Steelers run out the clock by running for nine yards on second down.

Oddly, in the Browns game, the Steelers did not have Fields attempt a run on either down on the pivotal drive. When he was asked after the game if his rhythm and timing are hurt by going in and out of the game, Fields responded: "Yeah I think it does, but at the end of the day, that's what my job is. You can't complain. Anytime I get an opportunity to go on the field and help my team I'm going to do it."

Earlier in the fourth quarter, Fields ripped off a 30-yard run to help set up the Steelers' first touchdown. He said in the locker room he felt "sick" because he believed he should have scored, attributing his inability to outrun Browns safety Juan Thornhill to being stiff on the sidelines before entering the game.

"I just have to make sure I'm warm on the sidelines at all times," Fields said. "That won't happen again."

Neither quarterback knows when he will be inserted or pulled from the game.

"I usually have a set package each and every week," Fields said. "I think the play-calling is random to be honest with you. It's kind of a feel thing with Arthur. How I'm going to be used is a question for him honestly."

Wilson expressed a similar sentiment on how the decisions are made in-game.

"I don't know when it's going to happen," Wilson said. "Whenever it does, all I want us to do is win. When Justin gets in there I'm rooting for Justin to do great and make a big play. When I go back in, it's vice versa. We're always rooting for each other."

If Fields had completed the pass to Pickens, and the Steelers successfully ran out the clock, Smith and Tomlin would not be getting criticized. When Tomlin made the controversial decision to start Wilson over Fields last month, and Wilson led the Steelers to a 37-15 victory against the Jets, Tomlin was asked if it was one of his boldest decisions.

"That's why I'm well-compensated," Tomlin beamed after the impressive win.

NFL coaches are paid handsomely to make difficult decisions. The ones Tomlin and Smith made late in the Browns game ultimately failed the team. Not every decision is the right one when you lose. It's the stark reality in the high-pressure world of NFL coaching.

As the Steelers head into December and January football, it's not a matter of whether Fields will be used. That's the easy decision. He's a dynamic player capable of making game-changing plays for an offense that needs a special player in special circumstances.

It's the how and when his unique skill set will be called upon. Smith and Tomlin have almost two months to figure that out before the playoffs start.

That's one challenge. The other is managing the egos of two players who always want the ball in their hands in the biggest moments.

In the end, their ability to keep Wilson and Fields happy and engaged is what will make or break the season.

(c)2024 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.