Despite a 4-2 start to the season with Justin Fields under center, the Pittsburgh Steelers are still making a quarterback change on Sunday night to insert Russell Wilson into the starting lineup for his first start of the season.
It is a move that has confused most outside observers and fans.
It has also apparently surprised the New York Jets, their opponent on Sunday night.
The Jets are also reportedly not mad about it.
According to a report on Saturday from The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the Jets are happy about the Steelers’ decision to switch from Fields to Wilson due to his lack of playing time and the rust he might be shaking off when he does start the game.
“Many in the Jets’ building are wondering what’s going on too — but make no mistake, they are happy about the news. They know Wilson will be knocking off rust and may even be dealing with some nerves. He’s getting his first start as a Steeler in prime time, at home, with former President Trump in attendance. It’s a gamble. Wilson, a former Super Bowl winner and nine-time Pro Bowl selection, has been a different player since being traded from the Seattle Seahawks to the Denver Broncos in 2022. His swag is at an all-time low.”
Fields has not been great the past couple of weeks and has missed some passes you would like to see a quarterback make, while the Steelers offense remains near the bottom of the NFL in terms of points per game. There is plenty of room for improvement.
Still, Fields has made enough plays — especially with his feet — to give the team opportunities to win games. Wilson entered the season as the Steelers’ starting quarterback but has been sidelined since early in training camp with a calf injury that has finally healed. Now that he is healthy, the Steelers want to see what he can do and if he can jumpstart the offense.
While he is, in theory, a better passer than Fields, he has not really worked much with the Steelers’ first-team offense, will be playing his first NFL game since late in the 2023 season and will be going against an excellent Jets defense. He will be doing all of that while playing behind a Steelers offensive line that has been hit by injuries. Pass protection could be an issue, and not having Fields’ mobility might be a problem, and it removes the one positive thing the Steelers had going for them.
It is a significant risk for the Steelers. If Wilson enters the lineup and jumpstarts the passing game, it could make the Steelers a formidable contender in the AFC given their defense. If Wilson struggles and they lose a big AFC game, it is going to lead to a lot of second-guessing for head coach Mike Tomlin and his coaching staff.
