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By Matt Levine
Contributing Sports Writer
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As the Pittsburgh Steelers get ready for their Week 6 bout with the Las Vegas Raiders, they will have a new player active for the first time this season. Veteran quarterback Russell Wilson will be active for this game but will take his place as the backup for the team.
Head coach Mike Tomlin reiterated that Justin Fields will remain the starter this week. Wilson has been out dealing with a nagging calf injury that gave Fields the chance he needed to take control and show what he could do.
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Under Fields, the Steelers have gone 3-2 but have lost the last two games. With Wilson active for this game, we could see him play if Fields were to struggle or get injured.
However, his being healthy and still being listed as the backup may be a sign of things to come. Pittsburgh has been infatuated with the play of Fields and it has led to the veteran being kept on the bench.
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While the Steelers did bring Wilson in this offseason with the idea in mind of him being the starter, Fields has given this team a different dynamic offensively. His dual-threat abilities have allowed Pittsburgh to use all elements of their offensive attack, something the team may not be sure they can do with Wilson.
On the season, Fields has thrown for 961 yards with five touchdown passes and one interception. He has also rushed the ball for 172 yards and three scores on the ground.
Since being drafted in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, Fields has been among the better dual-threat quarterbacks in the game. He is finally showing what he can do when he is surrounded by a more competitive roster.
While Wilson can run the ball as well, he isn't the same level of quarterback that he was even a few years ago. He struggled while with the Denver Broncos, leading to the Steelers being able to land him this offseason.
Taking on the Raiders won't be easy, even if Las Vegas hasn't been the best team this season. They are a gritty bunch who have won multiple games this year despite their lack of talent on the field.
Pittsburgh can't overlook the Raiders in this contest, otherwise, they may end up losing this week. With Fields under center, the Steelers will be favored — but a Wilson sighting could happen depending on what occurs throughout the game.
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