Six games and four wins into the season, Pittsburgh is making a switch at quarterback.
The Steelers are planning to start Russell Wilson on Sunday night against the New York Jets over Justin Fields, who had started each of Pittsburgh’s previous games this season, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Saturday.
NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported the impending switch on Tuesday, but head coach Mike Tomlin said he still had a decision to make. Pittsburgh is coming to the conclusion that was reported, going with a now-healthy Wilson, though it’s still mighty confounding for many.
Rapoport added that while Wilson is expected to play a bulk of the snaps as Sunday’s starter, Fields is also expected to play at some capacity.
The move will mark the first time in the Super Bowl era that an uninjured starting quarterback has led his team to a 4-2 record or better and has not started his team’s seventh game, per NFL Research.
Though Fields has hardly sparkled, the former Chicago Bears first-round pick has become a favorite of his teammates, thrown five touchdowns to just one interception and also rushed for five scores, which is tied for fifth in the NFL. Pittsburgh is 26th in total offense and the hope is Wilson can ignite the group, particularly a passing game that’s 28th in yards.
Wilson was proclaimed the team’s QB1 in training camp but was inactive over the first half-dozen games due to a calf injury. For the first time all year, Wilson has been absent from the injury report this week and Tomlin has elected to go with the former Super Bowl champion in the starting lineup.
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