Burning Questions | Previewing Jets-Steelers Week 7 Game

Steelers HC Mike Tomlin announced Tuesday that QB Russell Wilson would begin to receive first-team practice reps, putting him in line to possibly start over Justin Fields. What would Wilson bring to the Steelers offense that is different from Fields? How do you think each QB would fare against New York’s stingy pass defense?

DL: Wilson would bring a play-action threat back to the Steelers offense. Fields has attempted play-action passes at the second-highest rate in the league this season but is averaging just 5.4 yards per attempt. Last season in Denver, Wilson averaged 8.6 yards per attempt on play-action, slightly above the 8.4 yards per attempt he has averaged over his career. He’s also a more accomplished deep ball thrower. Just under 12 percent of Fields’ throws this season have been deep passes, which is 8th-highest in the NFL. But he has just 15 plays of 20 or more yards passing, which is tied for 17th in the NFL.

JP: If Wilson starts for the Steelers, it will be his first start since Week 16 of last season when he was a member of the Broncos. Coming off a calf injury that sidelined him for the first 5 games, I’d expect some rust. But as for what he brings to their offense, he adds exactly what they lack – explosive passing plays. Over the first six weeks, Justin Fields leads the NFL in percentage of pass attempts that traveled fewer than 9 air yards (54.4%) (min. 100 attempts). Last season, Wilson was fourth in the NFL in percentage of pass attempts that traveled 20-plus air yards (13.4%) (min. 250 attempts). He completed 38% of those throws for 6 touchdowns and 1 interception. The Steelers need a QB who can stretch to field and boost an offense that is middle of the pack in explosive plays. Regardless of who starts, it won’t come easy against a Jets defense that has allowed 18 20+ yard passing plays. The Jets secondary, highlighted by All-Pro CB Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed, have allowed 148 passing yards per game and one 300-plus yard passer since Gardner was drafted in 2022.