PITTSBURGH Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has addressed the team’s depth chart for quarterback on Wednesday.

The Steelers released their first official depth chart Tuesday night with Russell Wilson slotted in as the starting quarterback and Justin Fields listed as the backup.

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin walks the sideline during the NFL football team’s training camp in Latrobe, Pennsylvania on Tuesday, July 30, 2024Credit: AP

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Russell Wilson #3 of the Pittsburgh Steelers throws a pass during the Pittsburgh Steelers OTA offseason workout at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on June 4, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaCredit: Getty
“You guys saw the depth chart that I released yesterday,” Tomlin said.

“That is real.”

Wilson has been dealing with a calf injury all of training camp and will not play in Friday’s preseason game against the Houston Texans.

Fields will have an opportunity to show off what he can do as Tomlin has revealed he will play “a couple series.”

Friday’s preseason game may allow Fields to propel himself above Wilson in the depth chart.

“I think everything is an audition,” Tomlin said.

“Everything that we do is an audition not only for him but for others.”

Besides Wilson, T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, Alex Highsmith, Isaac Seumalo, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Patrick Queen will also not participate in Friday night’s game.

Tomlin revealed the reason for the star’s sitting out is because of veteran status or minor injury.

Despite being told he wasn’t playing in Friday’s game Wilson is ready to go when called upon.
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“I’m prepared to play,” Wilson said.

“I know that. So it’s whatever coach’s decision [is].

“Obviously he’s the boss man that gets to make the decisions on that, but I’ll be ready to go.

“There’s been several [preseasons] where I haven’t played, so it’s nothing new.

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“I think I’ve been fortunate to play, I don’t know, 200 games or something like that.

“I don’t know how many it is now. So I know what it looks like, I know the speed of it.”

Wilson also didn’t participate in any preseason games in 2022 when he was a starter for the Denver Broncos.

Tomlin has been adamant that the starting spot for the quarterback is still a competition even though Wilson is ranked ahead of Fields.

“Very much is a competition,” Tomlin said.

“What happens in a stadium is weighted heavier than what happens in a practice.”

Although Wilson has been an onlooker for most of training camp he did participate in the team’s “seven shots” drill on Tuesday.

Wilson handed the ball off and threw a touchdown to wide receiver George Pickens and completed another pass to him in an 11-on-11 drill.

“A lot of it is trusting the doctors and the trainers,” Wilson said of practicing more.

“Then obviously every morning I’m getting up super early, training and getting ready to rock and roll.

“We try to be really smart about how much I’m doing every day, but we’re pushing it too.”

Fields has impressed with the first-team offense in practice while Wilson recovers from his calf injury.

“I think he just comes to compete every day,” Tomlin said of Fields.

“He’s got an awesome competitive spirit.

“We got a competitive environment, and it seems like he’s enjoying it.

“He’s doing a really good job of acclimating himself to it and to his teammates and letting his talent show.”

Fields is not taking the opportunity to run the first-team offense for granted.

“I’m just trying to take advantage of each and every rep that I get,” Fields said.

“I know that if he wasn’t hurt, then I wouldn’t be in this position. So it’s just opportunities for me.”

Meanwhile, the Steelers acquired Wilson after Denver released him after the 2023 season signing him to a one-year $1.2 million deal.

Fields was acquired via a trade with the Chicago Bears in March.

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Justin Fields #2 of the Pittsburgh Steelers works out during the Pittsburgh Steelers OTA offseason workout at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on June 6 2024 in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaCredit: Getty

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Tomlin revealed that Russell Wilson is ahead of Justin Fields on the team’s depth chart for quarterbackCredit: Getty