The Pittsburgh Steelers are facing a significant quarterback dilemma just days before their Week 1 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.
Head coach Mike Tomlin must decide between starting veteran Russell Wilson, who has been dealing with injury concerns, or turning to Justin Fields, who has faced his own challenges.
Initially, the Steelers’ plan was clear – lean on the experience of Russell Wilson, despite his injury history, over the unproven but talented Justin Fields.
However, fate may be forcing Tomlin to reconsider as Wilson is currently dealing with calf tightness, and his availability for the Falcons game is now uncertain.
NFL insider Ian Rapoport shared details of Wilson’s injury and the possibility of a last-minute change at quaterback.
“He was limited in practice today and is going to be checked out by doctors. Just considering how unbelievably cautious the Pittsburgh Steelers have been as it pertains to calf issues. I think it’s fair to say that we do not know right now if Russell Wilson is going to actually be out there at less than 100%,” Rapoport reported.
“This does open the door to the possibility that Justin Fields who had such a strong training camp could in fact be their starting quarterback on Sunday.”
The Steelers’ conservative approach to Wilson’s health highlights their concerns, as calf injuries can be notoriously tricky and tend to linger.
“It’s not a good sign for the Pittsburgh Steelers. One of the reasons the Steelers were so cautious with the calf status of Russell Wilson was because these things really do tend to linger,” Rapoport added.
“Here we are a couple of days from the start of their season. He is the starting quarterback, from the eyes of Mike Tomlin. Now, we are wondering: Is he healthy enough to go?”
Pittsburgh’s quarterback situation has become even more pressing in light of their struggles during the preseason, where the team failed to impress in matchups against the Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills, and Houston Texans.
Now, with uncertainty at the most important position on the field, the team’s Week 1 preparation has been thrown into turmoil.
Despite the injury concerns, the Steelers have yet to make a final decision on who will start under center against the Falcons.
While Wilson was supposed to be the unquestioned starter, his newest injury has clouded the picture as Tomlin and company are left scrambling.
What are your thoughts on the situation?
Should the Steelers be extra cautious with Wilson? … How concerned should they be about his injury history going forward?
Who do you think will get the start come Sunday???