Fields’ start on Friday gives him another chance to impress the team in person. Tomlin added that “everything is an audition” for every player and that it’s an ongoing battle for the starting quarterback spot.
“It’s a competition,” he said. “What happens in the stadium carries more weight than what happens in a training environment because it’s more like a game.”
Fields getting those “few” series on Friday could decide a contest that was heavily tipped in Wilson’s favor before training camp. The 25-year-old’s jaw-dropping moments over three seasons will be seen live rather than in practice.
However, when asked whether Wilson still had the best chance of getting the starting spot, Tomlin gave a clear answer.
“You saw the roster I released yesterday. It’s real,” the coach said of the unofficial roster released Tuesday that lists Wilson as QB1.
Although Wilson is missing valuable reps in a new scheme, the competition continues to trend toward the veteran. Fields will get the first preseason game to prove to the coaching staff that they should rethink the order.
As for the ongoing rumors about a possible trade of star receiver Brandon Aiyuk from San Francisco to the Steelers, Tomlin declined to answer when asked if the club is considering adding to the WR lineup.
“You can speculate about that,” he replied.
