Bill Cowher Reveals His Pick For Who Should Start For Steelers In Week 1

Who should start at quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1? That remains the biggest question in the NFL through the first two weeks of preseason action.

Head coach Mike Tomlin didn’t commit to either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields as the starting quarterback following the Steelers’ 9-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Saturday night. The offense struggled from start to finish in that game — which was Wilson’s debut for Pittsburgh.

The 35-year-old only through for 47 passing yards through five series on offense but was sacked three times in his effort. Fields, on the other hand, was making his second preseason appearance and clearly learned from his mistakes from the first game. He finished with a team-high 92 yards through the air and also led the team in rushing with 42 yards on the ground.

Former Steelers head coach Bill Cowher is the newest name to give his pick on who Tomlin and the coaching staff should be starting in Week 1. In a guest appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” the Hall of Fame coach picked Wilson as the guy who should get the first look under center.

“You start the season with Russell,” Cowher said. “And I say it for this reason. Justin Fields, you know what, if he starts as the second guy, have a package of plays. If all of a sudden you need a spark, something to get your offense going again, put him in. If you have to take Russell out, here’s been there before. It’s not going to destroy his confidence. I don’t want to start Justin Fields then feel like I have to make a change and I take him out. I would worry, ‘Okay, I didn’t live up to the expectation.’ Limit the expectations you put on Justin Fields. Let him be Justin Fields. Let him get to know this offense and get really comfortable with this offense.”

Cowher led the Steelers to a Super Bowl win in 2005, one season before he retired from coaching. He certainly knows what it takes to get the job done, so he may be onto something in letting Wilson take the start while Fields gets more prepared behind him.

Each quarterback will have their final shot to win the job on Saturday against the Detroit Lions. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. EST.

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