Ben Roethlisberger isn't ready to let the Steelers end their Justin Fields experiment.
With a potential QB change looming in Pittsburgh as Russell Wilson returns to health from a lingering calf issue, Steelers legends announced Monday that Fields will be in the QB1 role after the team's 4-2 start. He said he would “absolutely not consider” removing it from the program.
“I thought Justin had a good game. He had a few spurts there and hit a few bad throws in a row, but overall, I definitely wouldn’t take him out of the game right now. It's unthinkable,'' Roethlisberger, 42, said after the Steelers' 32nd game. 13 wins over the Raiders in Week 6 on his podcast “Footbahlin” According to CBS Sports.
“I'm going to keep him there. Even if his game is bad, I'm going to keep him there because right now they're going well… he's good enough. I think he's playing well, and I think he's doing enough, especially as you can see with his foot movement.”
Fields, who was traded to the Steelers in March after being traded to the Bears, started the season in place of the injured Wilson, who was originally named the starter from training camp.
The former first-round pick threw five touchdowns, one interception, and added five rushing scores.
Roethlisberger, the team's Super Bowl-winning quarterback who called it a career after 18 seasons in 2022, praised the 25-year-old Fields' skill set as a runner while comparing him to Wilson's.
“It’s good to know what you have in reserve and Russ will be there when you need him.” Added by Roethlisbergeraccording to CBS Sports, “I think what you're going to get from Russ is more pocket presence to throw the ball down the field. But he's not going to be able to extend plays like Justin. He's a running back who's going to get back there if he decides to run. He's also a really, really talented runner.”
Roethlisberger has long supported the Bears' acquisition of Fields, a 2021 first-round pick, saying in September that the team should stick with its hot hand.
“If Russ is healthy, I will continue to date Justin,” he said on his podcast at the time. “I think he's earned the right to stay there and deserves it.”
Roethlisberger's comments came a day after Steelers manager Mike Tomlin revealed Wilson was under consideration to start against the Jets in Week 7.
Wilson, who signed a one-year deal with the team this offseason, once again showed signs of earning a contract as he represented the first team in practice Wednesday.
Asked Thursday about the possibility of him being on the bench, he said: Field criticized his performance.
He is completing 66.2 percent of his passes.
“So, to be honest with you, I don't think I played well enough,” Fields said. According to Pro Football Talk. “If I'm honest with myself, I don't think there's a question of who should play and who shouldn't play, as long as I'm playing well enough. We were able to get the win, so of course I'm happy about that, but there are areas that we can improve on and we'll continue to work on them and get better.”
Quarterback decisions will be made “closer to game time.'' Tomlin confirmed.
The Steelers will take on the Jets (2 wins, 4 losses) in Davante Adam's debut game against Gang Green on Sunday Night Football.
