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Steelers coach Mike Tomlin: ‘No need’ to title Justin Fields starting QB

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin: ‘No need’ to title Justin Fields starting QB

Sports Mike Tomlin is in no race to lisp Justin Fields because the starting quarterback in Pittsburgh.

Whereas Fields will again obtain the nod on Sunday in space of the injured Russell Wilson when the Steelers (3-0) talk over with Indianapolis (1-2), Tomlin stopped attempting giving the job to Fields on a full-time foundation, basically because of there is no longer any need at this level whereas Wilson rehabs from a calf dispute he aggravated a number of days earlier than the season opener earlier this month.

“When Russ will get to an relevant level of well being and now we make a choice up a call to contrivance, I will contrivance it and I will lisp it and I will be truly clear about it,” Tomlin stated Tuesday.

Wilson will be restricted again in practice on Wednesday, because the 35-year-frail has been every of the old two weeks. Tomlin did no longer rule out Wilson’s doable availability later within the week nonetheless added this can rob extra than reliable Wilson being cleared by the clinical workers for him to be in consideration for a return to play.

Asked when he thinks Wilson may per chance per chance meet these benchmarks, Tomlin shrugged.

“We will know as soon as we obtain there,” he stated. “He’ll now no longer ideally suited be wholesome via holding himself safe, nonetheless he’ll be wholesome via being ready to be productive and obtain the things that he needs to acquire and we need him to acquire.”

Wilson, signed to a one-year deal in March after being decrease by Denver, beat out Fields throughout a coaching camp competition that felt “originate” in title ideally suited. The 9-time Official Bowler, nonetheless, aggravated a calf harm reliable days earlier than the opener in Atlanta.

Fields stepped in and has gradually improved with every passing week. He carried out 25 of 32 for 245 yards with a touchdown and an interception — his first of the year — in a 20-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday that pushed the Steelers to three-0 for the first time since 2020.

“He is right, he’s a competitor, man, he likes to compete,” Tomlin stated of Fields. “He would no longer turn down things. He is aggressive in play, scrambling etc. It be reliable been fun to acquire to understand him and now no longer ideally suited know him as a guy nonetheless know him as a competitor.”

Fields is finishing 73% of his passes, well above his occupation moderate of 60%. He is additionally thrown reliable one make a choice in 75 makes an strive, an sick-told third-quarter throw against the Chargers that changed into as soon as batted into the air and pulled in by Los Angeles linebacker Bud Dupree. Whereas Fields careworn out he needs to be better going ahead, it is additionally his ideally suited turnover in three video games. He gave it away 41 cases in 40 video games throughout three seasons in Chicago.

After sticking basically to passes on the originate air in wins over the Falcons and Denver, Fields changed into as soon as extra aggressive over the center against Los Angeles. He associated on several critical throws between the hash marks, none larger than a scurry to Calvin Austin III within the third quarter that Austin grew to change into accurate into a 55-yard touchdown.

Tomlin praised Fields’ accuracy, something he first saw up finish whereas attending Fields’ Official Day at Ohio Divulge in 2021.

What Tomlin would favor to see going ahead from Fields is a bigger launch. The Steelers went three-and-out on three of their first four possessions against Los Angeles, with ideally suited a methodical 13-play, 70-yard touchdown power in between.

“We got to acquire that solved and obtain it solved rapidly,” Tomlin stated, later adding, “Three-and-outs and things of that nature reliable would no longer tee us up to play the kind of ball that we desire to play.”

It be a make a choice up of ball — a bodily protection and an offense that is careful nonetheless additionally dynamic — that has made the Steelers the early front-runners within the AFC North. Fields has been an increasingly well-known factor in Pittsburgh’s hot launch. The season, as Tomlin keep it Tuesday, is a “transferring practice.”

Asked if it is that chances are you’ll per chance per chance be mediate of for the practice to launch transferring too immediate for anyone with even Wilson’s decorated resume to hop on and play in an instant, Tomlin demurred.

“I obtain now no longer know, man,” he stated. “We will know as soon as we obtain there.”

NOTES: OLB Alex Highsmith (groin) is possible out against the Colts. Prick Herbig, who had two sacks last week against Los Angeles, will occupy in. … G Isaac Seumalo (pectoral) may per chance per chance ramp up his participation this week. The frail has been out since behind August. … RB Jaylen Warren’s position is up within the air after Tomlin pulled him from the Chargers’ game after noticing Warren changed into as soon as limping.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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