BREAKING NEWS:Steelers vs Falcons Kick-off time has been reschedule due to…
The Pittsburgh Steelers will play football in just one day as they travel to Atlanta to face the Falcons in a heated clash that has a lot of storylines. From best friends Raheem Morris and Mike Tomlin facing off to the return of Arthur Smith, there are some pent-up emotions in the game.
However, the Steelers have lots to be concerned with, too. Russell Wilson is unlikely to play after aggravating his calf injury. That could lead to Justin Fields starting. Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger is concerned about what might happen in the fanbase and locker room with the quarterback situation.
“My concern is if Russ struggles, that Justin fanbase is going to start to kind of grow,” Roethlisberger said on his podcast, Footbahlin’. “We saw it last year. Mitch Trubisky was the starter. As soon as he starts doing bad, they’re chanting for Kenny. And, then when Kenny struggled, they start chanting for Mitch. When you have two guys, it can be tricky. But I know Coach T can handle it. It’s going to be a unique situation as the season unfolds.”
The Steelers unequivocally named Wilson the starter after a summer competition. He may have very well earned it with his play throughout the summer, even after missing lots of time with the calf injury.
However, now that Fields is getting the chance to relieve Wilson right off the bat, the door will open to a quarterback controversy early in the season if Fields balls out. That would not be a bad scenario for the Steelers, but Mike Tomlin would have to handle that situation within the team’s locker room carefully.
Tomlin, a maestro of how to handle a locker room, walked on eggshells last year after the injury to Kenny Pickett. He went forward with Mason Rudolph anyway since Rudolph showed more for the team. Rudolph ended up rallying the team and leading them to the playoffs. So, for Tomlin, it will likely be about following who is the most deserving rather than anything else.
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