Ryan Clark Believes Steelers' Mike Tomlin Seriously Needs To Name Justin Fields QB1

Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin is going to have a difficult decision to make when quarterback Russell Wilson is finally healthy. When Wilson was signed by the Steelers this offseason, the plan was to have him be the starter, while Justin Fields got some time to develop behind him. Unfortunately for Wilson, he suffered a calf injury right at the start of training camp, and he has been slowly working his way back ever since. 

That allowed Fields a tremendous opportunity and he has taken the proverbial bull by the horns. With Fields under center, the Steelers have managed to go 3-0 to start the season. It hasn't been a flashy bit of quarterbacking, just solid gameplay from one of the most remarkable athletes in the league right now. Fields made a name for himself at Ohio State by using his speed and agility, but he hasn't even tapped into that skill set yet in Pittsburgh. While he was with the Chicago Bears, it was both a blessing and a curse. At times, he wasn't allowing plays to develop, and it was costing the team. 

It appears that Tomlin and Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith have slowly been letting Fields loose bit by bit. He has protected the football, while running an efficient passing game and using his feet judiciously. Many are wondering if Wilson should even get his starting job back. Tomlin has refused to give an answer about naming Fields the starter. There is no need to decide, so he is just letting it play out for now. 

However, Tomlin's former player, Super Bowl winner Ryan Clark, who was a safety in the Steel City for eight seasons, told TMZ that his old coach needs to name Fields the starter. 

"I loved the fact that every week, I knew we were going to line up with Ben Roethlisberger and if he threw an interception and if it went bad, that he was our guy and we were sticking with him," said Clark. "Having that indecision and not necessarily knowing that it's going to be Justin Fields the rest of the season or it could be Russell Wilson, that's a little difficult."

Clark added that he believes the Steelers can keep up their win steak with or without formally naming a starting quarterback if they continue to get this same level or higher of quarterback play. Fields has thrown for 518 yards and two touchdowns through three games, with one interception. He has rushed for another 90 yards and a single touchdown. That has him on pace for his lowest rushing stats of his career. However, as the weather turns colder and the opponents get tougher, Smith might call on Fields to pick up more yards with his legs. The question is how Tomlin will handle this situation going forward.  

Steelers' Russell Wilson Not There Yet

Wilson's calf injury has been nagging him for about three months now. The rumor is that he was pushing a sled during a conditioning exercise at the start of training camp. It didn't sound serious, but the Steelers are generally pretty closed-mouthed about injuries. He saw some limited action during the preseason, and most felt that he would be back sooner rather than later, but that wasn't the case. One concern is that as a player ages, and Wilson is 35 years old, a simple calf strain could turn into an Achilles injury.   

Tomlin made it clear during his weekly press conference that this isn't just as simple as Wilson being given a clean bill of health by the doctors. According to Ray Fittipaldo from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Tomlin indicated that he will have to show the coaches that he can "move in certain ways on the football field." He can't just hang back, like a sitting duck, and take sacks. Fittipaldo indicated that was what happened to the Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert. He was recovering from an injury, but wasn't mobile enough, which led to him suffering a re-injury. 

Do you think Tomlin should name Fields the starter? Click to comment below. 

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