Russell Wilson injury opens door for Justin Fields to get Steelers starter reps

Justin Fields took over as the Steelers’ first-team quarterback during training camp Thursday, but his perch atop the depth chart may not last long.

The former Bears signal-caller took the place of Russell Wilson, who woke up with calf tightness and was kept off the field by head coach Mike Tomlin, per ESPN, during the workouts in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. 

“It was my decision to sit [Wilson] down today, create a little short-term discomfort for him, not allowing a small problem to become a bigger problem,” Tomlin said. “He wanted to [practice], and he was probably capable, but I’m getting to know him and I just chose to create a little misery for him and the offensive unit.”

Wilson, considered day-to-day with the injury, is still presumed to be Pittsburgh’s QB1, something Tomlin reiterated during a news conference Wednesday before Wilson’s calf tightness cropped up. 

Tomlin said “nothing has changed” in terms of the hierarchy of the Steelers’ quarterback room and that Wilson was still in “pole position” for the starting job. 

In early March, the Steelers signed Wilson to a one-year deal and traded Kenny Pickett to the Eagles, signaling a new era at the position.

A few days later, the team dealt a conditional sixth-round pick for Fields, bringing the number of starter-level QBs on their roster to two. 

Observers have speculated that a quarterback competition could be brewing between Wilson and Fields since the pair came to Steel City this offseason, but Tomlin has maintained that the job is Wilson’s to lose. 

“We’ve been very transparent about the pecking order, at least to start,” Tomlin said in March. “I just think that provides clarity for all parties involved. Russell is a veteran, man. … He’s just got a lot of experience in terms of what it takes to be the guy over the course of a 12-month calendar and I just think that that’s something that a younger guy like Justin could learn from.”

But, at the time, Tomlin left the door open to Fields stealing the starting job. 

“Rest assured when it’s time to compete, Justin will be given an opportunity to compete, and we’ll allow those guys to sort themselves out,” he said.