The Steelers make the starting QB decision with Russell Wilson healthy

The key to the Steelers offense for at least another week belongs to Justin Fields.

Russell Wilson, whom Pittsburgh named the starter after the preseason before a calf injury sidelined him for the first five weeks, will “probably” be active Sunday as the Steelers' No. 2 quarterback, head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters Friday, but his Injury returns didn't result in a change at signal-caller – at least not in Week 6 against the Raiders.

“He’s proven his health,” Tomlin said. “Now it’s just a matter of shaking off the rust.”

Both Wilson and Fields – from the Broncos and Bears, respectively – were acquired from the Steelers in the offseason and competed for the starting position throughout the preseason, with Wilson, 35, looking for another career start after a disastrous stint in Denver hoped. emerges as the winner.

“It was a difficult decision, but not in a bad way,” Tomlin told reporters at the time. “The decision was difficult for us because of their performance.”

But instead of taking a back seat as the No. 2 quarterback, Wilson's calf injury — described as one he struggled with throughout training camp and which ultimately led to an appearance on the Week 1 injury report — forced Fields into the lineup for the start.

And at least in the first three weeks everything went so well that the Steelers started 3-0.

His numbers weren't sensational, but Fields threw two touchdowns and an interception while racking up 518 passing yards – and 90 rushing yards – in the Steelers' trio of victories.

However, they lost their next two games and Wilson's return reignited the quarterback dilemma, as Tomlin and the Steelers had made a decision before Wilson's injury.

Wilson, an eight-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion with the Seahawks, amassed 3,070 passing yards, 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions with the Broncos last year, and a 66.4 completion percentage marked his highest since 2020.

But Wilson will still need time to get used to the injury.

“Health and rust are two different things,” Tomlin said.

Pittsburgh's defense – which has allowed the eighth-fewest yards per game (298.0) and the third-fewest points per game (14.6) this season that began Sunday – has given the offense time to find a rhythm, and eventually, once Wilson has officially completed his recovery, opting for a long-term starter for the remainder of the regular season.

At least for Sunday, it will still be Fields.