Justin Fields isn’t looking over his shoulder even though Russell Wilson is closing ground in his quest to make his Pittsburgh Steelers debut at quarterback.
“I’m blessed to be here,” Fields said Thursday after practice. “Whatever my role is on the team, I’m going to do it to the best of my ability and work hard.”
After starting the first five games of the season in place of Wilson, Fields is on track to start again Sunday at Las Vegas when the 3-2 Steelers face the 2-3 Raiders at Allegiant Stadium.
Wilson, though, isn’t giving up hope he can take over the starting job this weekend. Wilson was listed as a full practice participant for the second day in a row, although much of his work was limited to taking snaps with the second team.
Asked about his expectations for Sunday, Wilson smiled and said, “That’s a big question. For me, I’m preparing in my mind to get ready to go. That’s my mentality, and I want to help us win.”
The Steelers will head to Las Vegas trying to snap a two-game losing streak. Fields has thrown just one interception and presided over slow starts against Indianapolis and Dallas in which the Steelers totaled three first-half points combined.
“We have to have the same mentality we have in the third and fourth quarters and just start off with it,” Fields said. “It’s not warming up to the game, and it’s coming out hot. It’s not mystical, it’s just us coming out and executing our jobs.”
Despite the recent losing streak, Fields is having a career season in terms of completion percentage (67.6), passer rating (97.1) and touchdown-to-interception ratio (5-1). His work ethic has won over new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
“He is unique in the modern era of a guy who is old school, tries to work on things,” Smith said. “There is no drama with him. I don’t think he tries to live through his avatar and create a perception. That’s probably why he was so endearing to his teammates in Chicago. That’s what I enjoy about working with him. He’s extremely coachable, extremely bright.”
Fields credits that approach with his upbringing. His father, Ivant, is a retired police officer who instilled discipline in Fields at a young age. As punishment for getting a C in math while in the seventh grade, Fields had his head shaved by his father.
“It was probably the worst day of my life,” Fields said. “But I’m glad to this day that he did that. He made me the man I am today. I try to come in and show gratitude for my job. I’m grateful to be here and in this position.”
Wilson, meantime, is waiting in the wings as he nears a chance to claim the job he was awarded after he signed a one-year contract with the Steelers in March when coach Mike Tomlin put the 35-year-old quarterback in the “pole position” of the competition.
The Steelers have been cautious about formulating Wilson’s return since he aggravated a calf injury four days before the season opener. The snaps in team periods that he has taken this week in practice have made him optimistic about a return under center.
“I feel confident I’d be ready to play and play at a high level,” he said. “I think we’re being really smart, too. This is my first week being really back. I feel confident about that. The ball is spinning. I feel good about that. No doubt in my mind that when I step in between the white lines, I’ll be ready to go.”
Even if he doesn’t start, Wilson is in line to be the No. 2 quarterback for the first time this year, with Kyle Allen becoming the emergency third quarterback.
Wilson isn’t concerned that he has taken only a handful of reps with the first-team offense since the start of the season.
“I’ve gotten work with everybody,” he said. “That is the good thing, throwing to different guys. All the run game stuff and checks, I feel good about it.”
The calf injury no longer is an issue, Wilson said, citing the way he has moved around in the pocket in practice.
“The biggest thing is being able to run well and do that well and move around,” he said. “I feel like I’ve been able to do that this week.”
Joe Rutter is a TribLive reporter who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since the 2016 season. A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Point Park, he is in his fifth decade covering sports for the Trib. He can be reached at jrutter@triblive.com.