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As the Pittsburgh Steelers gear up for their Sunday night clash with the New York Jets, a critical decision lingers: Who will lead the team as quarterback? Head coach Mike Tomlin faces the tough call between Russell Wilson and Justin Fields.

Justin Fields has been at the helm for the Steelers' first six games of the season. Although the team boasts a solid 4-2 record, Fields himself admits his performance has been less than stellar. "I don't think I played good enough, if I'm being real with you," Fields confessed on Thursday. He believes his play hasn't solidified his role as the starting quarterback. "If I did play well enough, I don't think there would be any sort of who should be playing, who should not."

While Fields has secured a few wins for the team, he acknowledges there's significant room for improvement. His recent performances have shown a decline, with under 150 passing yards in each of the last two games and a 57% completion rate across that span.

Russell Wilson, on the other hand, began the season sidelined with a calf injury. Having recovered, he took first-team reps on Wednesday, signaling a potential shift in the quarterback position. "Stats are often for losers," Tomlin stated firmly, indicating that numbers won't sole dictate his decision. "It's comfort food when you're taking an L. I just try to focus my energies on positioning this group to win and doing what's appropriate to try to put the best collective together this week and win this game."

Regardless of the final decision, Fields is preparing as if he'll start against the Jets. His dynamic running ability—231 yards and five rushing touchdowns this season—remains a valuable asset. Tomlin even referred to Fields' legs as "an X-factor."

As the game against the Jets approaches, both Fields and Wilson await Tomlin's verdict, each ready to lead the Steelers to continue their strong season in the AFC North.