Do the Steelers have a quarterback controversy on their hands? They don't if you ask one Pittsburgh reporter, who feels Justin Fields is simply keeping the starting job warm until Russell Wilson is healthy.
Even though Fields has led the Steelers to a 2-0 record, Chris Carter of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and "Locked On Steelers" believes the former 2021 first round pick of the Chicago Bears will have to take a major leap to avoid eventually losing his job to Wilson.
During an appearance on the "Mike Drop with Mike Asti" podcast, Carter explained Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin views Wilson as better player for this particular season.
"Make no mistake, when Russell Wilson is 100% healthy, I think this job is his," said Carter, who also recognizes that Fields has been an adequate game manager in each of the Steelers' two wins against the Falcons and Broncos.
So why does Carter feel Wilson is destined to take over in the coming weeks?
Carter feels Wilson has an easier time going through his reads and seeing the entire field and those traits are why Tomlin initially awarded the staring job to the nine-time Pro Bowler. He also hasn't seen enough from Fields to warrant not turning to Wilson when he's fully healthy.
But with Fields expected to start again on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers, Carter was asked if there's anything he can do to force Tomlin's hand and stay under center when Wilson is cleared.
"Play lights out, that's really what it would be," Carter responded.
And despite believing Wilson starting is simply inevitable, Carter did detail a path forward for Fields to continue building on his early season success.
"If Justin Fields starts tosses multiple touchdowns and no interceptions and the offense starts putting 24, 27 points on the board, if I'm Mike Tomlin, I have a hard time coming off that hot hand."
However, Carter isn't predicting that's going to happen either.
"I think Justin Fields," he explained, "if you asked him to continuously cycle through one, two, three, four reads on a play and command the offense like that...I think that would put him in a tough spot right now."
Through two games, Fields has thrown for just 273 yards and led the Steelers to only one touchdown. To Fields' credit, he has completed 69.8% of his passes and hasn't turned the ball over, though the wins are coming largely thanks to the defense.
No matter what happens in 2024, Fields is more likely to be back in Pittsburgh next season and into the future, if for nothing else, the fact he's 10 years younger than Wilson.
