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Bill Cowher Weighs In On Steelers QB Predicament After Russell Wilson’s Anemic Preseason Debut

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Steelers QB Russell Wilson is sacked in the preseason.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves in quite the predicament as the regular season quickly approaches. The team added a pair of starting signal callers to the roster over the offseason in Justin Fields and Russell Wilson.

To this point, neither has separated themself from the pack.

That was never more clear than in Week 2 of the preseason as the passers combined to muster just three points on the scoreboard against the Bills, failing to lend much confidence to either fans or the coaching staff.

Wilson started the game, throwing for just 42 first half yards while being sacked three times. Fields finished, completing 11-of-17 attempts though he did lead the team in rushing.

Neither found the endzone.

There was much anticipation in Pittsburgh after seeing the duo signed with the Steelers, with Wilson expected to land QB1 duties and Fields projected to be used in a variety of different ways.

That thinking changed during fall camp as Wilson nursed a calf injury and Fields took the bulk of the starting snaps.

Head coach Mike Tomlin insinuated that the job was Wilson’s to lose in the summer, and some believe he’s done just that. The latest performance certainly didn’t help!

Bill Cowher weighed in on the Steelers QB situation Monday.

The head coach prior to Tomlin, Cowher found himself in a similar situation with Mike Tomczak and Kordell Stewart. He gave his two cents on the QB battle this week.

“I look at the first two games, and I would just say this,” he said on the Pat McAfee Show. “I think with Russell Wilson, I don’t know how totally healthy [he was], and how much they wanted to open up the offense under Arthur Smith. I think Arthur is saving a lot of these things right now…

“You see a lot of the flash plays with Justin Fields… but you start the season with Russell. I say it for this reason. With Justin Fields, if he starts as the second guy, have a package of plays. If all of a sudden you need a spark, put him in… If you have to take Russell out, he’s been there before. It’s not going to destroy his confidence.

“I don’t want to start Justin Fields, then feel like I have to make a change… I would worry about him feeling like he didn’t live up to the expectation. Limit the expectation you put on Justin Fields… I would take the pressure off of Justin, start Russell, and Russell may take it and run with it… That’s the way you have to enter the season.”

Time will tell what Mike Tomlin ultimately decides to do. Even if Russell Wilson does make that Week 1 start, his leash may be short.