Analysis: Starting Russell Wilson makes sense for the Steelers

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It makes sense for the Pittsburgh Steelers to start Russell Wilson.

Sure, Justin Fields played well enough to keep his job. He made steady progress, using his athletic ability to make up for deficiencies on offense and helping the Steelers to a 4-2 start.

But the goal is to win a Super Bowl. It's not just about making the playoffs.

With Fields, the Steelers rank 26th in total yards and 20th in scoring with an average of 20.7 points per game.

This is not enough with a loaded AFC.

The Steelers have managed 20 or fewer points in four games, but win because they have a stingy defense led by superstar TJ Watt.

Fields hasn't shown he can win a shootout against Patrick Mahomes and the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs. This version of Pittsburgh's offense won't outperform Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry and the Ravens, or Josh Allen and the Bills. Then there's CJ Stroud and the Texans and Joe Burrow and the Bengals, who have their own problems.

“Justin was really good, and we were really good at times, but not to be confused with great,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said this week. “This is a competitive league. We're trying to position ourselves as that team and we have to play with talent that we haven't been able to play with yet. So we may explore these things.

“Sometimes it doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with what Justin did or didn’t do. Justin was an asset to us. Last week, for example, his ability to use his legs intentionally and at will was a key part of this game. He rushed for over 50 yards and two touchdowns in the game and we are very grateful for that. We appreciate the way he handles the ball, but we look at all the people we have available to us the same way we do at every position.”

Wilson beat out Fields for the starting role in training camp. A calf injury forced him to the sidelines and Fields took advantage of the opportunity. He completed a career-best 66.3% of his passes for 1,106 yards with five touchdown passes and one interception. His passer rating of 93.9 is also a career high, but that's 15th among QBs. Fields also passed for 231 yards and five scores.

His fighting ability adds an extra dimension to Pittsburgh's offense that helps make up for its lack of big playmakers. But Wilson isn't exactly a statue in the bag, even though he's almost 36 years old.

To his credit, Fields isn't complaining. He has to be ready to go if Wilson has trouble. The Host the Steelers Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams and the New York Jets (2-4) on Sunday.

“I don’t think I played well enough, if I’m honest with you, if I’m honest with myself.” Fields told reporters Thursday. “I think if I played well enough, I don't think there would be any question at all about who should play and who shouldn't. At the end of the day we got a few wins. Of course I’m happy about it, but there are areas where I can get better and I’m just going to keep working on that and keep improving.”

Tomlin has won many games and has never lost since taking over in 2007. He led the Steelers to the franchise's sixth Super Bowl title the following season, but it had been a long time since they held the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Tomlin knows the offense needs extra energy to have a chance at the championship, and Wilson is a long-time star with a ring. He had a terrible 2022 season in Denver and the Broncos were so desperate to get rid of him that they were willing to take an $85 million cap hit this year and next.

But Wilson's stats last year were decent — 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns, eight interceptions and a 98.0 rating.

The Steelers will only pay Wilson, the veteran, the minimum of $1.2 million, while Denver had to pay $38 million of his salary. So this decision is not about money. It's not like Cleveland, where Browns coach Kevin Stefanski seems compelled to play Deshaun Watson because the team gave away a ton of assets for him and guaranteed him $230 million.

It's more about Tomlin hoping Wilson can play like the guy who went to nine Pro Bowls in Seattle.

This Wilson is a dangerous Russian.

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