Steelers' Fields: I didn't play 'well enough' to keep starting job

Quarterback Justin Fields doesn't believe he's done enough to hold the starting role through the Pittsburgh Steelers' first six games.

"I don't think I played good enough if I'm being real with you," Fields said Thursday, according to The Athletic's Mike DeFabo. "If I'm being real with myself, if I did play well enough, I don't think there would be any sort of (question) who should be playing, who should not."

He added: "I want to be 6-0 right now, but it was a great opportunity for me. Of course, I'm grateful for the opportunity. I did get those first six weeks, and we'll just see what happens," per ESPN's Brooke Pryor.

Wilson entered the preseason as Pittsburgh's QB1 but spent the first six weeks of the regular season on the sideline while recovering from a calf injury. Fields has steered the Steelers to a 4-2 record during his absence. However, Wilson has progressed in rehab and served as Fields' backup in Pittsburgh's win over the Las Vegas Raiders last weekend.

The Steelers are reportedly giving Wilson first-team reps at practice this week. Head coach Mike Tomlin confirmed the club is considering starting the nine-time Pro Bowler in its upcoming Sunday Night Football matchup against the New York Jets.

Fields, acquired by Pittsburgh in a trade with the Chicago Bears in the offseason, has thrown for 1,106 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception while averaging a career-best 66.3% completion rate this season. The Ohio State product leads all quarterbacks with five rushing scores and has helped Pittsburgh increase its points per game average to 20.7 from 17.8 in 2023.

Tomlin said he thinks the Steelers have played well with Fields under center, but he wants to consider all options to help the team succeed.

"This is a competitive league. We're trying to position ourselves to be that team, and we got a player with talent who hadn't had an opportunity to play, so we're going to potentially explore those things," Tomlin said earlier this week, per Pryor.