Russell Wilson calf harm: Might Justin Fields begin at quarterback for Steelers in Week-1?
All offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers have insisted that Russell Wilson shall be their beginning quarterback. They mentioned so once they signed him after he was waived by the Denver Broncos. They mentioned so after they acquired Justin Fields through commerce from the Chicago Bears. They mentioned so after the NFL Draft, at minicamp, and at coaching camp. They mentioned so when Mike Tomlin introduced the Week 1 starter.
However Week 1 is right here, and it won’t be Wilson beneath middle towards the Falcons. That is as a result of he’s coping with a calf harm and was restricted in observe on Thursday after not showing on Wednesday’s harm report in any respect. If Wilson finally cannot give it a go towards Atlanta, that may, in fact, thrust Fields into the beginning lineup.
Fields had a thinner commerce market this offseason than initially anticipated, and was ultimately despatched to Pittsburgh for under a conditional sixth-round choose that may turn into a fourth-rounder if Fields performs greater than 51% of the Steelers’ offensive snaps.
He has proven all through his profession that he is likely one of the league’s most explosive playmakers on the place, significantly within the run recreation, however he has additionally been extremely inconsistent as a passer, susceptible to taking a excessive quantity of sacks and turning the ball over fairly continuously.
Nonetheless, he brings extra upside at this level in his profession than Wilson, who will flip 36 years previous later this season and has been in clear decline for a number of years. The Steelers have nonetheless caught behind Wilson as their starter, but when Fields will get a chance on Sunday and runs with it (figuratively and actually), he may be capable to swing issues in his favor.