Russell Wilson is getting closer to a return to full health.
But until that time comes, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin isn't making any pronouncements regarding who will be his team's starter at quarterback moving forward, Wilson or Justin Fields, who has started the team's first three games this season with the former sidelined because of a calf injury.
Tomlin said Tuesday at his press conference at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex that the plan is for Fields to make his fourth-consecutive start when the Steelers (3-0) travel to Indianapolis to play the Colts Sunday.
"(We're) still very much in the same place with Russ this week as we were last week, at least at the beginning of the week," said Tomlin. "I just met with him and the athletic trainer talked about what tomorrow looks like. (Wednesday) is a limited participation day from a scheduling perspective. He had a good workout today. We'll see how he feels in the morning, but I'm not expecting him to be a full participant tomorrow.
"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."
A fourth-year player, Fields is coming off his best performance in Sunday's 20-10 victory over the Chargers at Acrisure Stadium in the Steelers' home opener, a game in which he threw for 245 yards and one touchdown and rushed for another.
With the Steelers off to a 3-0 start for the first time since 2020, some have wondered if Tomlin would simply name Fields the starter at this point over Wilson, whom he had named the team's starting quarterback going into the season. Wilson then suffered an aggravation of a calf injury he had dealt with in training camp, pushing Fields into the lineup three days before the team's opener against the Falcons.
But Tomlin said he's not going to make any decisions about things of that nature until he absolutely has to do so.
"Sometimes in this business 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," Tomlin said. "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've got no intentions of making the decision that's unnecessary at this juncture."
That being said, Tomlin has been pleased with what he's seen from Fields, acquired in the offseason via a trade with the Bears soon after the Steelers had signed Wilson in free agency.
The former first-round pick of Chicago has completed 73.3 percent of his passes for 518 yards with two touchdowns and one interception while also running for a score in his three starts, posting a passer rating of 95.3. The three-game winning streak is the first time in Fields' career he has achieved that.
"No question Justin has played well. And that's exciting for him and for us. But I'm not surprised by that," Tomlin said.
"I like his steady demeanor. I like that in a leader. He doesn't ride the emotional roller coaster when things are going good or things are going bad. Guys can rally around that. He's steady. He's a competitor. He likes to compete. He doesn't turn down things. He's aggressive in play, scrambling and so forth."
As for Wilson, Tomlin said he has no qualms about the ability of the 13-year veteran to assimilate himself back into things when he's deemed healthy enough to do so.
"We'll know when we get there," Tomlin said of when that would be. "He'll not only be healthy in terms of keeping himself safe but be healthy in terms of being productive and doing the things he needs to do and we need him to do."
Injury update: Tomlin said two players injured in Sunday's win over the Chargers will definitely be out in this game, while another who missed the game with an existing injury still isn't ready to return.
Tight end MyCole Pruitt, who suffered a knee injury against Denver two weeks ago, remains out this week, while outside linebacker Alex Highsmith (groin) and cornerback Cory Trice (hamstring) will not play against the Colts after suffering in-game injuries against the Chargers.
With Highsmith out, second-year pro Nick Herbig, who had two sacks against the Chargers, will make his first career start in Indianapolis opposite T.J. Watt.
"He's hardworking and humble, and I really think that tees up performance for him," Tomlin said of Herbig. "But he also has ridiculous belief in self. And that's attractive to coaches. That's attractive to older players. He's not a guy that's ever scared."
Meanwhile, running back Jaylen Warren (knee) and guard Isaac Seumalo (pectoral) are dealing with injuries, but could be considered questionable this week.
Warren suffered his injury against the Chargers, while Seumalo has missed the first three games.
If Warren can't play Sunday, Cordarrelle Patterson could see additional action as a running back behind Najee Harris.
"He was limping in game. In the latter part of the game I kind of noticed it, and I pulled him from the game because I know Jaylen's tough," Tomlin said. "He's just going to go. And so we'll see where his availability is as we work this week.
"I'd imagine he would be somewhat limited tomorrow. And we'll see the trajectory of it in terms of including him or not in planning."
As for Seumalo, on Sunday, the Steelers rotated Spencer Anderson and rookie Mason McCormick at left guard in his place, with Anderson making his third start of the season.
Tomlin said that rotation could continue.
"Isaac is working his way back into the offensive line. We'll see what his participation looks like this week," Tomlin said. "And in the meanwhile, when he's not participating, we'll continue to do some of the things that we did at left guard last week in terms of Spencer and Mason both getting work and watching those guys throughout the week to kind of decide how we divvy up the labor based on that performance. And obviously that discussion is exclusive or aside from Isaac's availability."
• Dale Lolley is co-host of "SNR Drive" on Steelers Nation Radio. Subscribe to the podcast here: Apple Podcast | iHeart Podcast
Shutdown defense: The Steelers lead the NFL in yards allowed and points allowed through three games. They also haven't allowed a second-half touchdown in three games, giving up just two field goals.
But Tomlin said things could be even better.
"Defensively, great defenses communicate. Great defenses specialize in terms of variety of personnel groups and schematics within those variety of personnel groups," Tomlin said. "And we just got to continue to work in those spaces.
"We've had some success but we've also had some real JV moments. The longest run of the day was 13 yards. That happened when we had 10 guys on the field because of our inability to exchange people appropriately and handle some of those things that really tee up good defenses. So although we're playing good ball, it's still about us. It's still about how we function. It's still about utilizing the players that are available to us and their talents and formulating a plan that allows us to do the desired job."
