Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields has taken full advantage of his opportunity in his new home. Fields was called on to start after Russell Wilson, who was named Pittsburgh's starting quarterback in late August, reaggravated a calf injury during practice leading up to Week 1. Given how Fields has played since, the Steelers shouldn't go back to Wilson.
On Tuesday, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin indicated Fields is preparing to start the upcoming Week 4 contest against the Indianapolis Colts. Wilson will continue being limited throughout this week of practice. When Wilson is healthy, Tomlin will officially announce his decision at quarterback. Barring a losing streak, the expectation is that he'll be sticking with Fields.
And why wouldn't he? The Steelers are one of five undefeated teams in the league through three contests, including impressive victories over the Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Chargers. Why rock the boat? Tomlin has never shied from making difficult quarterback decisions. He's the same coach who benched his first-round pick Kenny Pickett last season.
Fields is playing complementary football. His elite defense is allowing league-lows in total yards (229.7) and points (8.7) per contest. They possess the third-ranked run defense (71.3) and fifth-ranked pass defense (158.3).
Fields is completing 73.3% of his passing attempts through three starts, the sixth-best mark in the entire league. Fields' Adjusted Completion Percentage (ADJ%), which takes drops into account, is 82.9%, second-best behind Geno Smith. He's thrown two touchdowns versus one interception and ranks 12th in passer rating (95.3).
The dual-threat quarterback has also rushed for 90 yards and one additional touchdown. He’s taken just six sacks behind a quality offensive line. It’s especially impressive considering Fields has the 12th-worst time-to-throw at 2.91 seconds, though his ability to scramble and create off-script helps offset the lengthy amount of time he’s holding onto the ball.
The advanced analytics also reflect kindly on Fields’ form. His average completed air yards is 4.7, higher than quarterbacks like Josh Allen (4.3) and Patrick Mahomes (2.8). Fields’ Completion Percentage Above Expectation (CPOE) is an impressive +6.6, fourth-best among all qualifying quarterbacks, according to Next Gen Stats. That means he’s completing a higher percentage of passes than expected based on per-down probability.
Fields is Pro Football Focus’ fifth-highest graded passer (81.0). Removing the small sample sizes from Tua Tagovailoa and Andy Dalton this season, he ranks 10th in big-time throw rate percentage (4.7%). Miraculously, he’s attempted zero turnover-worthy plays, tied for first in that category among full-time starting quarterbacks with Aaron Rodgers.
Fields also currently ranks 11th in adjusted Expected Points Added (EPA) per play. His EPA per dropback is a positive 0.06, meaning he's consistently having a positive impact on Pittsburgh's offensive drives. Fields has showcased significant progress in these departments since his struggles with the Chicago Bears.
Fields is doing an outstanding job identifying advantageous matchups against opposing defenses. He's completing high-percentage passes and keeping the football out of harm's way. The Steelers have no tangible reason to insert Wilson into their starting lineup at quarterback.
