The Steelers were reluctant to start Justin Fields at quarterback over Russell Wilson to open the 2024 NFL season, but now that Fields has played well in leading Pittsburgh to a 3-1 start while Wilson has battled a calf injury, the team should put away thoughts of reversing the new course.
Wilson hasn't played a down for his third team, so there's no on-field evidence to show how well he would be executing Arthur Smith's offense in relation to Fields. Fields, however, has done nothing to drop him back to No. 2 on the depth chart.
Although coach Mike Tomlin has been non-committal on what the Steelers' ultimate QB decision will be when Wilson is fully healthy, here's why Fields needs to remain the starter to give the team optimal winning results.
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Fields is critical to Pittsburgh's run-heavy attack
The Steelers have been calling run plays 53.7 percent of the time under Smith, fourth in the league. The Falcons also ended up fourth in the league with Smith in 2023 at 47.8 percent.
Pittsburgh is up in rushing yards per game from 117.6 to 128.5. Fields has averaged 36 rushing per game, and that includes a six-yard outlier vs. the Chargers.
Lead back Najee Harris has struggled, averaging 3.4 yards per carry, while backup Jaylen Warren has been hurt, which prompted the team to run more with wide receiver hybrid Cordarrelle Patterson, who now is battling an ankle injury. Fields has helped with the ball control approach big-time to complement the defense. Wilson will not be producing in the running game at close to the same rate.
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Fields is protecting the ball and not forcing things in the passing game
Fields has thrown only one interception and lost one fumble. Last year, he had 13 turnovers in 13 games with the Bears. Wilson also had 13 turnovers last season with the Broncos (15 games).
Tomlin's biggest concern with Fields was continuing his giveaway frequency from Chicago. That worry has been mostly eliminated so far. Fields has worked to be more contained in a run-heavy attack. Wilson, not as much the willing runner at 35 despite his athleticism, would flash some higher rewards downfield as a passer but that comes with more interception risk.
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Fields is getting better with each start for the Steelers
Fields rated 91.9 as a passer in his first start for Pittsburgh, the Week 1 win in Atlanta. During the Week 4 loss at Indianapolis, his rating bumped up all the way to 104.
In between, in games against Denver and Los Angeles, Fields either was effective as a passer or a runner — just not both at the same time. However, he posted 312 passing yards, 55 rushing yards, and 3 total TDs against the Colts, proving he can blend both his skills when the offense is streamlined to his three best weapons: wide receiver George Pickens, tight end Pat Freiermuth, and his legs.
Why would Smith and Tomlin want to mess with that momentum, never mind Fields' growing confidence? The original thought was Wilson would be more trustworthy as the bridge QB while Fields built himself up after a demoralizing Bears stint.
But the Steelers have learned their Plan A wasn't the best-laid. Now that Plan B has been put in motion with Fields on the winning path, Wilson has become a much more volatile variable.
