The Pittsburgh Steelers are in full preparation mode heading into their Sunday Night Football matchup with the New York Jets. The Steelers are currently sitting at 4-2 with Justin Fields handling the snaps. He has done about everything the coaching staff has asked from him, especially when it comes to extending plays with his legs. With the potential that Fields has shown through six weeks, Mike Tomlin is now considering giving the reigns over to a healthy Russell Wilson.
With concerns of his calf injury over with, Wilson could finally see the field in regular season action Sunday night. It isn't a secret that Wilson is up there in age (35) and his mobility isn't what it used to be -- which Tomlin knows that. Tomlin told the media during his press conference that Wilson does not have the same ability with his legs as Fields does.
"No he [Wilson] does not. Justin's legs are an X-Factor," explained Tomlin.
With a different style of quarterback inserted into the Steelers' offense, there will be little to no design quarterback runs that Arthur Smith would call. When asked by the media how Wilson starting will change the offense, Tomlin said he was unsure, but seemed excited by it.
"It remains to be seen and I think that is one of the cute things about this discussion," said Tomlin.
The Steelers are facing a good defense on Sunday. With all of the injuries on the offensive line, Wilson's ability to get away from pressure compared to Fields could be concerning. Fields was able to turn potential negative plays in Week 6 against the Raiders into positive gains with his ability to escape pressure.
Wilson, who has been dealing with his calf injury since the beginning of training camp, was limited on what he could do in the preseason games that he appeared in. Wilson is not a stranger of running. His last two seasons with the Denver Broncos, he rushed a combined 135 times for 618 yards (averaging 4.5 yards per carry) and six touchdowns.
Wilson has been listed as the starting quarterback all season long. While Fields has led the Steelers to a 4-2 record and second in the AFC North, the coaching staff needs to see what Wilson can do with the offense. They understand they are losing the running ability at the quarterback position in this decision, but has faith that Wilson's vast experience will make up for that in the passing game.
The Steelers will be missing key pieces on their offensive line Sunday. Zach Frazier, who has been impressive in his rookie year at the center position, will be out against the Jets. The Steelers' line has been hit by the injury bug hard this season, leading to Fields having to make many plays with his feet -- whether moving out the pocket or getting yards himself. Wilson's time to throw average was 3.06 seconds last season (second longest in the NFL), and there is a good possibility that he will not have the luxury of holding onto the ball that long.
Steelers' Offense Looking For A Fresh Look Sunday Night
The Steelers moving to Wilson has its benefits and concerns. The biggest concern is his mobility behind this banged up line. They do get the leadership and experience of a Super Bowl winning quarterback on the field. Wilson is going to want to make the most of his time playing as well, since Fields has done a good job in his absence.
Not only getting a win in prime time, but performing at a high level is a must for Wilson to give the coaching staff the confidence to continue to start him moving forward over Fields.
Are Tomlin and the Steelers making the right decision to play Wilson? Will Wilson's lack of mobility hinder the offense against the Jets' defense? Let us know what you think in the comments.
