Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin opened up a big can of worms at his Tuesday press conference this week. Tomlin didn’t come right out and say Russell Wilson is planning to start this week against the New York Jets but he left the door open for it in a big way.
According to NFL reporter Tom Pelissero, the Steelers plan to give Wilson first-team reps in practice this week. No mention of whether or not Wilson will get all of the reps or if it will be a split between Wilson and Justin Fields but if Wilson is healthy, the odds are Tomlin is leaning toward starting him Sunday night against the New York Jets.
Sources: The #Steelers plan to give Russell Wilson first-team reps in practice this week, putting him in line to make his season debut and start Sunday night against the #Jets.
Pittsburgh is 4-2 with Justin Fields. But Wilson’s calf is fully healed and now he gets his shot. pic.twitter.com/vrhgo7LfgO
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 15, 2024
If the Steelers go to Wilson now, there might be no going back. Fields has done everything asked of him and has the team at 4-2. Bench him now and if Wilson struggles, what is the benefit? And how would Fields respond if he’s put back into the starting lineup? This whole thing feels like a dangerous situation that could completely blow up in the Steelers face if it doesn’t work.
