PITTSBURGH — With an aggravated calf damage persevering with to restrict Russell Wilson, the Steelers are making ready for quarterback Justin Fields to begin in opposition to the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
“As I sit right here at the moment, we’re making ready as if Justin goes to be our quarterback,” coach Mike Tomlin mentioned Tuesday. “I feel that is the suitable approach to do it. Hypothesis is a waste of time. Russell’s harm. He isn’t accessible to us. And so, as you guys know, as a common observe, I focus my vitality on these which are accessible and their readiness.”
Wilson won’t take part totally in Wednesday’s observe, Tomlin added, and the workforce will meet with medical doctors afterward to find out a plan for his inclusion the remainder of the week. Although Tomlin sometimes would not use gamers on Sundays if they do not observe on Fridays, he allowed there’s some leeway in availability for veterans resembling Wilson.
“Younger gamers need to observe on Friday,” Tomlin mentioned. “The older you might be, the much less vital that’s. I deal with all people truthful. I do not deal with all people the identical.”
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Requested particularly whether or not Wilson would begin Sunday if he is wholesome, Tomlin declined to present a definitive reply.
“That is an enormous if,” Tomlin mentioned. “I am not into the hypotheticals. As I discussed, proper now, he isn’t wholesome. And so my time and a focus is specializing in the readiness of Justin.”
Wilson was nonetheless listed because the beginning quarterback forward of Fields on the workforce’s up to date depth chart. Requested particularly if Wilson was nonetheless the beginning quarterback when wholesome, Tomlin downplayed the query.
“I am not going to appease you with hypothetical eventualities,” Tomlin mentioned. “It’s my common observe to not. … So why begin at the moment? As a result of it is the quarterback place or as a result of it is a nationwide story? I’m unmoved by a few of these narratives, to be fairly sincere with you.
“… When persons are considerably restricted, I say we’ll push via our work week. We’ll let their participation be our information when it comes to whether or not we embody ’em after which the standard of that participation. This situation is not any completely different for me. … Our energies and a focus are on these which are accessible and are scheduled to play. They’re deserving of that. When these that aren’t are wholesome, we’ll ponder it at the moment.”
Although his first snap was a fumbled change with rookie heart Zach Frazier, Fields performed turnover-free soccer in his first regular-season begin as a Steeler, finishing 17 of 23 makes an attempt for 156 yards with two sacks and dashing 14 instances for 57 yards within the win over the Atlanta Falcons.
“He settled in as the sport progressed,” Tomlin mentioned. “I assumed he had clear eyes and weighty moments. I assumed he was communicator in a few of these moments the place we had some dialogue. … It is simply actually good issues to construct upon.”
Wilson examined out his calf via a sequence of throws greater than two and a half hours earlier than Sunday’s recreation in Atlanta earlier than telling Fields he would begin. Wilson was then inactive and served because the emergency third quarterback.
Wilson spent two seasons with the Broncos earlier than he was launched and signed with the Steelers, however his expertise with Denver is not essentially an added asset for the Steelers, particularly if he is inactive for the second week in a row.
“Typically that is overblown,” Tomlin mentioned. “If he is on the sideline, he isn’t making performs. The fellows on the sphere are the fellows that bought to make the performs and that is typically our mentality. We’re not resistant to assist, however we aren’t going to place it on a pedestal and make it look like greater than what it’s.”
