PITTSBURGH — Mike Tomlin might stick with the hot hand at quarterback even when Russell Wilson is back from his calf injury, but the Steelers coach said on Tuesday that he's not yet at the point of making that decision. «There's a potential for that, but we're not there, as I stand here today,» Tomlin said when asked if Justin Fields' performance through four games is making Wilson's health immaterial to the starting quarterback decision.
Tomlin also said Fields' performance could eventually impact the Steelers' approach to bringing Wilson back from injury. «It potentially could, but it has not to this point,» Tomlin said. «The guiding factor for us at this point is the amount of ball that we have in front of us, how early we are in this process.
That's probably been one of the significant variables in terms of our approach to his rehabilitation.» Late last season, Tomlin rode the hot hand in quarterback Mason Rudolph, starting him in a series of must-win games and in the wild-card game against the Buffalo Bills — even after former first-round pick Kenny Pickett was cleared to play following surgery for a high ankle sprain.
Asked if there was anything Fields could do to prove he should keep starting, Tomlin was blunt. «Play well, win,» Tomlin said. «That's our business.» Though Tomlin said he expected Wilson to ramp up his practice participation this week, the coach said he's still preparing for Fields to make his fifth start Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.