Did Russell Wilson just win the Steelers job for good?
By Levi Coovert October 22, 2024 01:31
Boos reigned down on Russell Wilson from fans in Pittsburgh after he started by completing just two of eight passes against the New York Jets on Sunday Night Football.
Wilson looked rusty in the first quarter, and when the Steelers punted for a fourth time down 15-6, coach Mike Tomlin even had backup Justin Fields warming up on the sidelines.
However, a spark was created by the Steelers defense, who created a turnover and gave Wilson the ball back at midfield. And from there, the rest was history.
Wilson began to move the ball with ease, controlling the offense like a veteran leader. He formed an immediate connection with wide receiver George Pickens. He launched his signature deep ball over the heads of a beaten up New York Jets secondary.
The final score was a blowout win for Pittsburgh, 37-15. The last time the Steelers scored 37 points was November 21, 2021, back when Ben Roethlisberger was still the QB in Pittsburgh.
Wilson performed well in the second half. He finished the game with two touchdown passes and a touchdown rush, throwing for 264 yards, the most for any Steelers QB in his season debut. His 109 passer rating was higher than any game Justin Fields has played all year.
However, does one great game mean Russell Wilson has locked down the job as the Steelers starting QB from here on out?
The answer is probably not yet; Fields has shown he can win in Pittsburgh, so if Wilson struggles in future games, it's reasonable to think Tomlin could make the switch back to Fields. He was willing to try it out with Wilson, and likely would not hesitate to move back to Fields if he believes it is for the good of the team.
Fields led the team to a 4-2 start, and his benching was seen as a controversial move by many in the media. While it seems to have worked out for now, the spotlight will remain on Wilson as he battles back from injury. Wilson has been benched before, after his loss to the dreadful Patriots on Christmas Eve, 2023 eliminated the Broncos from playoff contention.
Despite his previous struggles, Wilson for now will be the starter in Pittsburgh. Tomlin has made that very clear. However, the situation could still be fluid, until Wilson locks down a few more great games under his belt.
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