PITTSBURGH — The Steelers’ quarterback controversy is coming to a head this week, as Russell Wilson is now healthy enough to be “in contention” to start on Sunday against the New York Jets, coach Mike Tomlin said.
While everyone has an opinion on which quarterback should be the starter, Tomlin has declined to name one as of Thursday afternoon. When Justin Fields spoke to the media on Thursday, he said he’s preparing the same way.
However, Fields didn’t sound like a quarterback confident he’ll start on Sunday.
“I don’t think I played good enough if I’m being real with you,” Fields said. “If I’m being real with myself, if I did play well enough, I don’t think there would be any sort of (question) who should be playing, who should not.
“At the end of the day, we got a few wins. Of course I’m glad about that, but there’s areas I can be better at. I’m just going to continue to work on those and continue to get better.”
Justin Fields very candid today: “I don’t think I played good enough if I’m being real with you.
“If I’m being real with myself, if I did play well enough, I don’t think there would be any sort of (question) who should be playing who should not.” pic.twitter.com/8eW7hH75f6
— Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) October 17, 2024
Fields in many ways was playing some of the best football of his NFL career during the Steelers’ 4-2 start. His completion percentage (66.3) and passer rating (93.9) are both career highs. He’s thrown for five touchdowns, run for five and thrown just one interception on the season.
When Tomlin was asked on Tuesday where Fields needs to improve, he said, “Justin has been really good. We’ve been really good at times — but not to be confused as great. This is a competitive league. We’re trying to position ourselves to be that team.”
While Fields’ mobility has been a catalyst for the Steelers offense, his passing has been inconsistent at times. During one particular sequence on Sunday, he threw three consecutive errant passes to open receivers, resulting in a field goal attempt.
“Nobody is perfect in one area,” Fields said. “If you’re not perfect, you’re going to want to keep improving.”
Fields said that he leans on his faith and quoted a passage from the Bible that reads: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
Said Fields: “Any little setback, I just know it’s going to make me better not only as a person but as a player, too.”
(Photo: Andy Lyons / Getty Images)
