The Pittsburgh Steelers came into Week 1 as underdogs to the Atlanta Falcons on the road. Their underdog status was warranted, as Russell Wilson re-aggravated his calf injury during the week of preparation. This left the quarterback position up in the air, and Justin Fields was named the starter just hours before kickoff. Fields and Pittsburgh were able to secure the 18-10 victory in Atlanta, which may force some questions to arise about the future of the quarterback position for the Steelers.
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Steelers' Justin Fields looks to pass in Pittsburgh's Week 1 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in 2024 during a game in Atlanta, GA.
Fields didn't light up the box score by any means, but he did a good job of not putting the ball in harms way. The offense had zero turnovers throughout the game, but Fields did have a pair of concerning fumbles while getting the snap from rookie Zach Frazier. Head Coach Mike Tomlin spoke to the media following the win, and he praised Fields for being able to step into the starting role. He was asked about who will be the starter moving forward, but quickly deflected the question.
"You can come ask me that question on Tuesday."
Tomlin said this to a reporter who asked him if the winning performance from Fields would effect Wilson's status as the starting quarterback. He quickly declined to answer, but will address the topic on during his weekly press conference on Tuesday. This doesn't inspire much hope for Fields to continue his job as the starting quarterback, but it also doesn't do that for Wilson as he attempts to return from his calf injury.
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Quarterbacks Justin Fields (#2) and Russell Wilson (#3) during the Pittsburgh Steelers' 2024 OTAs.
Fields did what he had to in the victory. He completed 16 of his 23 passes for 156 yards, but also added a lot to the game with his running ability. He ran the ball 14 times for 57 yards, and these carries often came on crucial possession downs that Tomlin often emphasizes. It's clear another element is added to Pittsburgh's offense with Fields at quarterback, which is something that has to be considered moving forward.
Fields was a first down machine on possession downs, and he threw the ball pretty accurately once he got settled into the game. He has some misses early, but was fairly consistent throughout the rest of the game. Pittsburgh stalled out on offense multiple times and failed to find the end zone once, but the unit did just enough to come away with the victory.
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Steelers George Pickens celebrates 71-yard touchdown against division rival Cleveland Browns in Week 2.
Steelers' Wide Receiver Issues May Be Concerning Moving Forward
George Pickens was clearly Fields' favorite target of the day. The wide receiver caught six of his seven targets for 85 yards, including a big chunk play right before halftime to set up a field goal. It was a good game from the top receiver, but he was the only player at the position who caught more than one pass. Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III both added just one reception each for minimal yardage.
The tight ends and running backs were a factor in the receiving game, but it is clear the Steelers are missing something on the outside. In order to make life easier on whoever is playing quarterback, Pittsburgh better hope for some better play from receivers outside of Pickens. Maybe Roman Wilson can be that guy once he returns from injury.
Tomlin should be addressing the media on Tuesday where he will likely share his plans at the quarterback position moving forward, and if Wilson is fully healthy it is hard to imagine the team not starting him. However, what Fields was able to do in the season-opener doesn't go unnoticed. There is certainly some pressure applied to Wilson, and the veteran better get back on the field soon to reclaim his starting job.
Who do you want to start moving forward for the Steelers? Do you like the way Fields looked? Let us know in the comments below!
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