Steelers’ Mike Tomlin Still Hasn’t Picked a Starting Quarterback

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is still not ready to name who will start at quarterback to begin the 2024 season following the conclusion of the team’s preseason games.

The Steelers wrapped up their preseason with a 24-17 loss to the Detroit Lions, but Tomlin has yet to name either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields as the team’s signal caller.

Instead, Tomlin plans to see how Wilson and Fields play over the next week of practice and name the starter at the end of the week.

“We’ve got three days of Steelers versus Steelers work and why not do it then?” Tomlin said, via NFL.com’s Coral Smith. “It kind of minimizes the Steelers versus Steelers work when we start making decisions prior to the completion of that. We’ve got ample time to prepare for Atlanta and make whatever decisions or announcements regarding divisional labor or pecking orders and so forth.”

“And so, we will do it at the end of the work week,” Tomlin said.

Neither Wilson nor Fields have separated themselves as the clear starter through multiple preseason games. In Saturday’s contest, Wilson once again started the game. He played just one series, going 2-2 for 26 yards. He also led the Steelers on a touchdown drive, after the offense struggled to score points in his first preseason game of the season a week ago

Fields came in after and went 3-4 for 40 yards in brief action.

Last week, Wilson returned from a calf injury and was just 8-10 for 47 yards as the offensive line struggled to protect him. Fields went 11-17 for 92 yards as well, but the Steelers just mustered a field goal in a 9-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

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The Steelers acquired both quarterbacks this offseason after they were cast off from their previous teams as they remain in search of a longterm option at the position after the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger.

Wilson arrived in Pittsburgh after spending two seasons with the Denver Broncos, where he took significant steps back from the Pro Bowl-caliber player he once was. The Broncos went 11-19 in Wilson’s disappointing tenure in Denver.

Fields was traded to the Steelers after spending his first three NFL seasons with the Chicago Bears. The 25-year-old had begun to show progress toward the end of last season, but the Bears opted to go after USC’s Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The two will battle it out over the next week, with the winner starting the season for Pittsburgh in their season opener against the Atlanta Falcons.