Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin announced on Tuesday that Justin Fields is expected to start again in Week 2 against the Denver Broncos, ahead of Russell Wilson.
“As I sit here today, we’re preparing as Justin Fields is our QB,” Tomlin stated, as reported by team reporter Missi Matthews.
Wilson, who was designated as the starting quarterback before the season began, missed Week 1 due to a calf injury. Tomlin noted that while Wilson is improving, he will not practice until at least Thursday, according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Under Fields’ leadership, Pittsburgh secured an 18-10 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, with six field goals from Chris Boswell. Fields completed 17 of 23 passes for 156 yards, with no touchdowns or interceptions, and also ran for 57 yards, though he did fumble. Tomlin refrained from confirming a starter postgame when asked if Fields’ performance against Atlanta could affect Wilson’s position as the starting quarterback.
The upcoming game against the Broncos presents a revenge opportunity for Wilson, who was released by Denver in the offseason before joining the Steelers on a one-year contract. The 35-year-old played two seasons with the AFC West team but had a 11-19 record as a starter.
Fields, acquired by the Steelers this year through a trade with the Chicago Bears, showed potential in Chicago mainly due to his rushing skills but struggled with consistency as a passer. This led the Bears to trade him before selecting Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in the draft.
