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The quarterback controversy continues to rumble…
The Pittsburgh Steelers have had another quarterback controversy in the making this season, and it’s only been spurred further by the latest news out of practice. QB Russell Wilson, now fully healthy after recovering from a nagging calf injury, took first-team reps in the first practice leading up to Week 7, as confirmed by starting left tackle Dan Moore Jr. and reported by beat reporter Nick Farabaugh.
Tomlin acknowledged that would be the case in his Tuesday press conference after NFL insider Tom Pelissero shared a report that Wilson would “get his shot” against the New York Jets despite a 4-2 start with Justin Fields under center.
That doesn’t mean the team is ready to officially announce their decision on the starter, however. As Brooke Pryor of ESPN shares, HC Mike Tomlin has been pretty hush-hush on the division of labor in practice and any decision on a starter for the week:
Mike Tomlin declines to say how QB reps were divided in practice today. Asked if he’s made a decision on the starter for Sunday, he says any decisions that have been made are staying in-house.
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) October 16, 2024
In all fairness, there’s not a ton of incentive for Tomlin to be overt in sharing his plans at quarterback. Given the differences in play style (namely the threat Fields brings in the run game), the New York Jets would undoubtedly prepare differently for each of them.
If Tomlin does move forward with Wilson as the starter in Week 7, Fields will be the first quarterback in the Super Bowl era to start a season 4-2 and not start his team’s seventh game, excluding players who missed due to injuries, per NFL Research.
For those curious, here’s a clip from practice:
Here you go — Russell Wilson and Justin Fiekds.
Wilson first, Fields second pic.twitter.com/c76T7eSJ0Z
— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) October 16, 2024