After Russell Wilson’s successful performance this Sunday night, the thinking was that Mike Tomlin could eventually officially announce him as the team’s starting quarterback going forward.
The Pittsburgh professor did not do this, however, during his weekly press conference, although he did acknowledge that Wilson will be groomed this hour as the team’s starting quarterback over Justin Disciplines, who was 4-2 when Wilson used to be being out with a calf shock.
“He’s scheduled to take reps with the first team when we start tomorrow,” Tomlin said of Wilson. “We’ll see where the week takes us.”
When both quarterbacks were signed this offseason, the general idea was that Wilson would begin working as a discipline tutor. But the dynamic changed when Wilson injured his calf early in training camp and Disciplines temporarily replaced him as QB1. Fields earned nearly all of Pittsburgh’s first-team reps during training camp, the preseason and during the first six weeks of the regular season when Wilson suffered his calf shock.
The dynamic changed again two weeks ago, when Wilson took first-team practice reps with Disciplines. Wilson then earned all first-team reps for an hour before making his season debut during Sunday’s 37-15 win over the York Jets. That procedure is expected to continue at this time.
The disciplines’ role has certainly changed, as he will now receive second-team reps in practice and back up Wilson in playing time, unless something unexpected happens. Tomlin, on the other hand, doesn’t need Disciplines’ mentality to change, although the condition around him does.
“I just want Justin to be ready to play like he has,” Tomlin said. “I refuse to acknowledge any change that you just acknowledged. We are building a plan to beat the New York Giants this week. We have two capable guys. We are going to prepare them. They both need to be ready to work.”
Although unorthodox, Tomlin’s decision not to permanently start a starting quarterback is understandable. During their year as teammates, Disciplines and Wilson have shared a healthy show scene. Campos, despite knowing months ago that Wilson was coming to Pittsburgh with the pole position, has never granted the right to Wilson and surely never will. In turn, Wilson has said publicly on several occasions that the disciplines have pushed him to be a better version of himself. It’s clear that the contest is a good thing for both players.
Tomlin is also aware of how temporarily things can change for his team, especially at the quarterback position. Wilson is also QB1 now, however, it would be best to trade him at some point this season. If so, Tomlin needs to make sure his starting-caliber backup quarterback is capable.
Again, not naming the long-term starting quarterback is not common. But as Tomlin said, what the Steelers are looking to pursue isn’t common either. Pittsburgh is trying to win its record seventh Super Bowl, and the path to doing so will likely require methods and ways that go beyond the norm.
