According to Ian Rapoport, sources have said not to be surprised if Steelers HC Mike Tomlin keeps QB Justin Fields in the starting lineup as long as the team keeps winning.
Tomlin has a history of riding the hot hand at quarterback, including last year with former third-string QB Mason Rudolph ahead of former first-round QB Kenny Pickett.
Fields got the start ahead of QB Russell Wilson after the veteran’s calf injury lingered into the regular season. Pittsburgh beat the Falcons in Week 1 and Fields didn’t turn the ball over.
A report from the local beat indicated the Steelers plan to start Fields in Week 2 and Week 3 to give Wilson’s calf a chance to heal.
Fields, 25, was selected in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Bears out of Ohio State. Chicago traded up to No. 15 overall with the Giants to get Fields and parted with their 2022 first-round pick in the process.
He signed a four-year rookie deal worth $18,871,956 with a signing bonus of $11,085,059 that also included a fifth-year option to pick up on him in 2024 worth $21.978 million guaranteed for the 2025 season.
The Bears traded Fields to the Steelers for a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick that can improve to a fourth-round pick if Fields plays 51 percent of the snaps in 2024. Pittsburgh declined Fields’ fifth-year option.
In 2024, Fields has started one game for the Steelers and completed 73.9 percent of his pass attempts for 156 yards, zero touchdowns and zero interceptions. He also rushed 14 times for 57 yards.
We will have more on the Steelers’ quarterback situation as it becomes available.
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