The Pittsburgh Steelers have suffered their first loss of the 2024 season, dropping their Week 4 contest to the Indianapolis Colts, 27-24. It is also the first loss of Justin Fields' tenure with the Steelers, which will lead to questions about the Steelers possibly replacing him with Russell Wilson is he's healthy.
Fields and the Steelers' offense was abysmal in the first half of the loss, but the unit turned things around over the final two quarters before ultimately falling short of tying the game on the final possession.
Fields finished 22-of-34 for 312 yards and one touchdown while also adding two more touchdowns and 55 yards on the ground in what was his most productive performance of 2024. It was also Pittsburgh's highest point total.
But the showing wasn't without a few blunders from Fields, who fumbled twice in the contest and lost one of them.
The lost fumble came in the first half and saw Fields scramble to escape pressure and lose a ton of yards before he turned the ball over. That proved costly, as Pittsburgh was in field goal range prior to the play.
Then, on the Steelers' final drive of the game, Fields wasn't ready for a snap, which led to a fumble that cost the Steelers 12 yards and set them up with a second-and-22 the offense couldn't recover from.
To be fair to Fields, he had a lot to overcome. Pass protection was poor once again, George Pickens lost a fumble at the Colts' five-yard line, and the Steelers' defense provided no support and had Fields chasing points all game long.
Now, looking ahead to Week 5, the Steelers might have a decision to make under center. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Wilson is expected to be fully healthy ahead of the contest against the Dallas Cowboys.
"My understanding is that time is coming," Rapoport said. "Russell Wilson is nearing full health, as close to full health as he has been. In fact, if it was a playoff game, if it was a Super Bowl, he would for sure be playing. That said, likely after this week, Mike Tomlin will get to a point where Russell Wilson will be healthy enough, have to name a starter, and that is expected, of course, to be Justin Fields."
If things kept going the way they were in the first half, Fields likely would have lost the job if Wilson is indeed healthy enough to play in Week 5. However, Fields probably bought himself another start with his impressive second half, although the leash doesn't figure to be long with Wilson waiting in the wings.
