Mike Tomlin addresses Steelers waiting to name quarterback for Week Four

Pittsburgh Steelers (3-0) head coach Mike Tomlin declined to name Justin Fields the permanent starting quarterback moving forward when given the opportunity to do so on Tuesday.

“Because there’s no need,” Tomlin said, via Brooke Pryor of ESPN. “I explained to you the variables of the week. It has not changed. He’s going to walk in this building with that mindset tomorrow, and so really, there’s no need to. Sometimes in this business, man, there’s a myriad of complex decisions that need to be made.

“I’ve learned to make them when it’s appropriate and it’s not necessary as we sit here right now, when Russ gets to an appropriate point of health and we have a decision to make, I’ll make it and I’ll announce it and I’ll be really transparent about it, but until then, I don’t care how many ways you guys ask me, I got no intentions of making the decision that’s unnecessary at this juncture.”

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Fields has started the first three games of the season with Russell Wilson sidelined due to a calf injury he sustained on the eve of training camp. Tomlin initially named Wilson the starting quarterback ahead of the season opener.

He aggravated his calf injury three days prior to Week 1, however, and has been a limited participant in practice over the last two weeks. Tomlin said they’ll revisit Wilson’s status later in the week to determine his availability for Sunday’s Week 4 road contest against the Indianapolis Colts (1-2).

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Steelers HC Mike Tomlin declines to name permanent starting quarterback

“As we walk in the building tomorrow, I want Justin singularly focused on starting for us. And doing what’s required to be ready to do that,” Tomlin said. “… We’ll see where the week leads us. If [Wilson’s] availability or the quality of his practice participation picks up, maybe we’ll consider that later in the week. If it doesn’t, then it won’t be a consideration, and we’ll just continue with where we are right now.”

Fields has guided the Steelers to a perfect record under center and has gotten better game-by-game. He has thrown for 518 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, completing a career-high 73.3% of his passes.

Tomlin said that Fields’ performance hasn’t factored into his decision to name a starter “because it’s not time yet.”

“Justin has played well, and that’s exciting for him and for us, but I’m not surprised by that,” Tomlin said. “And I hadn’t looked at it in terms of the decision-making because it’s not time yet.”