The slumping Steelers might want to consider a quarterback change.
On Wednesday, Pittsburgh lost its third straight game — 29-10 to the Chiefs (15-1).
With the loss, the Steelers (10-6) fell out of first in the AFC North, likely setting them up to begin the postseason on the road.
Quarterback Russell Wilson struggled, which should open the door for head coach Mike Tomlin to contemplate returning to backup Justin Fields. He started Pittsburgh’s first six games as Wilson recovered from a calf injury.
In the Steelers’ Week 17 loss, Wilson was 23-of-37 for 205 yards (5.5 yards per attempt) and one interception while losing 43 yards on five sacks.
Wilson was most effective as a runner, ending the game with six carries, 55 yards and a touchdown.
During Pittsburgh’s three-game losing streak, Wilson is 59-of-92 (64.1%) for 550 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. The Steelers have averaged 13.3 points per game.
From Weeks 1-6, Fields was 106-of-160 (66.3%) for 1,106 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. He added 231 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 55 carries while piloting the Steelers to a 4-2 record.
Wilson is playing his worst football at an inopportune time. Fortunately for Pittsburgh, it has a backup who’s already proven he can win running offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s system.
Inserting Fields back into the starting lineup might not only lead to short-term rewards for the Steelers.
Fields, 25, and Wilson, 36, are pending 2025 free agents, and if an organization could build around one — all things else being equal — it would choose the younger option every time.
Wilson is nearing the end of his career, while Fields hasn’t entered his prime. By giving Fields the keys to the first-team offense, he could not only break Pittsburgh out of its slump but also give it a quarterback for the future.
