Pittsburgh Steelers’ Quarterback Dilemma Continues Ahead of Sunday Night Game

In Pittsburgh, the uncertainty surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ starting quarterback for the upcoming Sunday night game persists. Head Coach Mike Tomlin has refrained from publicly naming the starter, though hints have surfaced through conversations with the players.

Wide receiver George Pickens, during an interview, alluded to the possibility of quarterback Patrick Wilson starting. “Yeah, [we’ve been] getting on the same page after practice, throwing more than usual because this is his first start,” Pickens noted. This statement came despite Tomlin’s earlier refusal to disclose the starter when pressed by reporters. “I am, but I’m just going to keep that in house,” Tomlin stated, remarking on the performances of both Wilson and Justin Fields during practice.

Wilson, who is 35 years old, participated fully in practices for the second consecutive week, recovering from a calf injury. His involvement included leading the quarterback exercises and taking first-team reps, hinting at his potential starting role. Fields, meanwhile, has been part of the rotation as the second quarterback, following a 4-2 record in Wilson’s absence.

Tomlin highlighted the competitiveness of the NFL and expressed a need to explore various player talents. “Justin has been really good, and we’ve been really good at times, but not to be confused with great,” Tomlin commented earlier in the week. He emphasized that the decision to consider Wilson does not necessarily reflect poorly on Fields’ performances.

While neither quarterback confirmed the starter position during Thursday interviews, Wilson conveyed his readiness to play if chosen. Fields admitted to self-assessing his performance harshly, stating he “didn’t play good enough” in his series of starts, despite the teams’ overall support. Running back James Conner voiced encouragement for Fields, saying, “I think he did a really good job, and he shouldn’t be so hard on himself. We got your back.”

The Steelers are navigating the complexities of managing talent and expectations within a competitive league environment, keeping fans and analysts alike eager to see the outcome of this decision on game day.