The Pittsburgh Steelers kicked off the season with a clear quarterback controversy, but it might already be resolved after just two games. Russell Wilson was named the starting QB for the Steelers’ opener against the Atlanta Falcons, but a calf injury kept him sidelined.
In his absence, Justin Fields stepped in and led the Steelers to a victory on the road. Fields repeated this success with a win against the Denver Broncos on September 15, pushing Pittsburgh to a 2-0 record and raising doubts about Wilson’s future as the starter.
Jacob Infante from Windy City Gridiron, who covered Fields during his time with the Chicago Bears, tweeted, “This throw got called back, but man… I can’t watch Justin Fields so far today and think, ‘Yeah, Russell Wilson would be better than this.'” The sentiment was echoed not just by media but also by fans on social media, with comments like, “Justin Fields isn’t giving the starting QB job back to Russell Wilson,” and “Russell Wilson is never playing for the Steelers.
Fields hasn’t been extraordinary, completing 30-of-43 passes for 273 yards and one touchdown, with 22 rushes for 84 yards and four sacks over the two games. However, his performance has been enough to secure wins, including two away games.
Even if Wilson returns to full health for Week 3 against the Los Angeles Chargers, it seems unlikely that head coach Mike Tomlin would disrupt a winning formula. If Fields continues to manage games well and avoid major mistakes—despite having two fumbles but no turnovers—Wilson might be relegated to a backup role for the rest of the season.