The Pittsburgh Steelers are set to make a quarterback change ahead of their big Sunday night showdown.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for a quarterback switch ahead of their Sunday night matchup against the New York Jets.
Currently 4-2 with Justin Fields leading the offense, head coach Mike Tomlin is ready to shake things up before the Week 7 clash. According to Tom Pelissero, Tomlin plans to give Russell Wilson the start as the veteran quarterback nears his return from injury.
The Steelers are set to give Wilson first-team reps in practice this week, which could lead to his season debut and start against the 2-4 Jets, the report says.
Wilson, 35, hasn’t played a regular-season game for the Steelers since signing a one-year deal worth $1.2 million seven months ago. He’s been recovering from a calf injury sustained before the Week 1 matchup with the Atlanta Falcons.
During preseason, Tomlin had indicated Wilson was the frontrunner for the starting role, and Wilson officially secured the job in August before his injury disrupted his season. The veteran beat out Fields for the starting spot, completing 10 of 12 passes for 73 yards in 25 preseason snaps.
In Wilson’s absence, Fields has stepped up, guiding the Steelers to a 4-2 record. The 25-year-old quarterback has thrown for 1,106 yards and five touchdowns, with just one interception. He’s also rushed for 231 yards and five touchdowns.
Wilson, who won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks, joined the Broncos in 2022 through a high-profile trade. However, his time in Denver was rocky, leading to an 11-19 record over two seasons. He was benched after a Christmas Eve loss to the Patriots, amid reported disputes with head coach Sean Payton over his contract.
Fields, meanwhile, was acquired from the Chicago Bears in exchange for a conditional sixth-round pick, just three seasons after being drafted 11th overall by Chicago. Despite showing promise, Fields has struggled over his 38 career starts, posting a 10-28 record and enduring 135 sacks.