Justin Fields call made as Russell Wilson's Pittsburgh Steelers status changes

Russell Wilson is back in practice for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but coach Mike Tomlin said the team is not yet ready to make a decision on the starting quarterback position

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson is back in action but not with the starting team. The nine-time Pro Bowler missed the first five games of the 2024 NFL season due to a persistent hamstring injury he picked up in preseason.

Wilson has now returned to full practice for the first time this season. However, he's only taking reps with the second-team offense so as "not to disrupt Justin [Fields's] progress," according to head coach Mike Tomlin. Fields has guided the Steelers to a 3-2 record, despite the team's offense ranking just 26th in the NFL and being largely carried by T. J. Watt and a formidable defense.

In Sunday night's 20-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, he completed 15-of-27 passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns. This season, the typically mobile quarterback is averaging a career-low 34.4 rushing yards per game. When asked about potential changes to his depth chart, Tomlin was non-committal.

"We're in a little bit different place as I stand here today with Russ," he said. "First we'll see if he's able to obviously pull it off and get through the session, and if he does, what the quality of that works like, his ability to protect himself." Former quarterback Dan Orlovky stressed on Monday that the Steelers must stick with Fields.

ESPN's Dan Orlovsky openly criticised the decision to play Wilson, during a segment on 'Get Up': "I would say that's the wrong decision [to put Wilson in]," and explained the issues facing Pittsburgh, adding, "The offensive line is not very good. They're not running the football nearly as well as I thought they would. The two things that are hurting in their pass game. There are two or three clips where you want to see Justin's eyes in a little bit of a better or more consistent place."

Regarding the team's struggles, he noted, "The team's top offensive lineman, James Daniels, is out for the season with an Achilles injury. Top running back Najee Harris is averaging a putrid 3.3 yards per carry and the receivers outside of George Pickens have failed to help Fields."

Orlovsky continued to discuss the lack of open receivers, stating, "There's no one getting open that much for this offense," and highlighted the need for improvement. "George Pickens is unbelievably talented, but he's not winning that much and they're certainly not getting them the football enough early on in the football games."

He pointed out what he feels is the most pressing issue: "They cannot beat man coverage. So if you have to ask me really what's the fix for Pittsburgh's offense, it is not the quarterback. It is, they need a pass catcher opposite George Pickens. They become a viable threat."

Despite a strong start to the season, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin remained tight-lipped about his future plans at quarterback. "After the team jumped to a 3-0 start, Tomlin refused to answer questions about who would be his starting quarterback long-term. 'When Russ gets to an appropriate point of health and we have a decision to make, I'll make it and I'll announce it and I'll be really transparent about it.'".

"Until then, I don't care how many ways you guys ask me, I got no intentions of making the decision that's unnecessary at this juncture."

The Steelers are setting their sights on reviving their offense in an upcoming game they're tipped to take control of. They'll face off against a 1-4 Las Vegas Raiders team next Sunday, a squad still playing without their key player, star wide receiver Davante Adams.