Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields received the unlikely Week 1 start due to an ongoing calf injury to Russell Wilson.
Some had hoped for Fields to get the job cleanly in August, but sometimes, opportunities come when they want to.
However, with a win under his belt, Mike Tomlin has a difficult situation morphing on his hands.
The quarterback choice will be a hotly discussed topic this week as the Steelers get ready to head to Denver to take on Wilson’s former team.
Here are a couple of takeaways for Fields after Pittsburgh’s Week 1 win over the Atlanta Falcons.
Justin Fields’ job to lose
At this point, with a win solidly under his belt, Tomlin may risk upsetting his fan base if he elects to switch quarterbacks. Wilson’s health appears to be the biggest question of whether he will play in Week 2, but if Fields looks solid in practice on top of upsetting an upgraded Falcons squad, the choice appears clear.
That said, Fields has one big caveat. In his debut in Week 1, he didn’t deliver the catalyst to shut down the choice once and for all.
Fields had to grit out a win, posting a solid completion percentage without making the killer mistake. One could argue that he cleanly outplayed Kirk Cousins, who threw two interceptions and for one fewer yard than Fields. If Fields can outplay Cousins, the odds are high that he is outplaying Wilson in practice.
Keep Justin Fields Fields running
While Wilson is still mobile in his mid-30s, Fields is geared to rush. If Tomlin wants to keep the ball out of the air and interception totals low, it will fall on him to keep Fields tucking and running. In Week 1, Fields rushed 14 times for 57 yards.
It was the constant running that allowed passing lanes to open. As such, it gives more opportunity to Fields to manufacture a passing game if there is none. Wilson won’t be as able to manufacture angles if he doesn’t threaten to run up field as often as Fields. Justin Fields rushed up field 14 times, towering over the number of rushes Wilson’s 35-year-old frame can risk.
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