If Fields stays at QB, Russ is going to want out of town
The Steelers have now won all three of their games so far this year, the most recent of which was a 20-10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers (21).
All three wins have come with Justin Fields at quarterback. The presumptive 2024 starting QB, Russell Wilson, has yet to take a snap because of a calf injury.
The longer the Steelers stay unbeaten with Fields under center, the more the question becomes if Wilson will ever get a start, especially with the way things went Sunday.
Fields completed his first 11 passes against the Chargers. He ended the game 25 of 32 for 245 yards, a touchdown, an interception and two sacks. Those numbers were good for a passer rating of 96.0.
During this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLive said this week’s victory had Fields’ imprint on the game much more than the other two. That means the dialogue of what should be done at quarterback once Wilson gets healthy is changing.
“The offense had its best game, “ Madden said. “And Fields now is the starting quarterback, for better or worse. He played a very good game. Not great. But for the first time this year, he can attach his name to the win. People have been saying, ‘Well, he’s 2-0.’ He had marginal to do with those first two wins. But this one, he was a big contributor.”
Now Madden says that, with Wilson getting healthier, some tough decisions have to be made.
“The fallout is going to be if he stays at starting quarterback when Russ is healthy, Russ is going to want out, for sure. And I won’t blame him,” Madden said. “But for the first time, I can justify (Wilson sitting).”
Despite the long-held belief that the team would go to Wilson once his calf healed, Madden now says sticking with the hot hand in Fields is justifiable.
“Yeah, because it’s finally hot. It wasn’t in the hot hand in the first two games,” Madden said. “He was just the quarterback of record. But he played pretty well today.”
Madden says Fields is benefiting from a change in expectations in Pittsburgh as opposed to what was foisted upon his shoulders when he was with the Chicago Bears.
“In Chicago, he was the first-round pick, and them not having been any good for so long, he felt more obligated to play hero ball. He’s not playing hero ball in Pittsburgh. Don’t get me wrong. The first-round pick should be capable of occasionally playing hero ball. But in Chicago, he sure proved he couldn’t. So maybe a minimalist approach is the way to go — as boring as it was again, (Sunday). That was the most watchable of the three Steeler games. But only very marginally.”
Also during the podcast, Madden and I discuss the impressive second-half defensive effort, the run game, Paul Skenes’ latest start and the opening of Penguins’ training camp.
