Mark Madden: Justin Fields hasn't done enough to be Steelers' QB1

Russell Wilson should be the Steelers’ starting quarterback the minute he’s cleared. (That’s assuming he’s not already cleared and was shadow benched Sunday at Denver.)

Justin Fields is terrible. Just like he was in Chicago.

Sure, the Steelers are 2-0. Huzzah.

But they have one touchdown in eight quarters. The offense has been dumbed down again. It plays scared. The offensive coordinator might as well still be Matt Canada. The only difference is Arthur Smith uses a lot of tight ends.

A tight end caught a touchdown at Denver. Huzzah.

The Steelers play to not lose. So far, they haven’t. Huzzah.

But this method won’t beat good teams, it won’t win enough and it certainly won’t win a playoff game.

But Baltimore and Cincinnati are both 0-2. Huzzah.

I’m told 2-0 doesn’t lie. But in 2020, 11-0 lied.

At Denver, Fields again posted passing stats akin to Kenny Pickett’s tenure in Pittsburgh: 13 for 20, 117 yards, one touchdown.

Fields threw three passes between the hash marks, up from zero at Atlanta. Huzzah.

Fields ran eight times for 27 yards. That’s not enough. That’s not playing to Fields’ main strength.

Fields just isn’t good enough to start in the NFL. He’s proven it over three seasons in Chicago and in two games with the Steelers. His decision-making is rotten, and his arm is all over the place. He’s only passable when he plays it safe, and safe won’t get you far in today’s NFL.

Wilson might not get you far, either. But he’d add organization and precision. He knows how to play quarterback. Fields doesn’t.

Wilson has one big quality: He’s not Fields. Huzzah.

Would the offense still be cowardly with Wilson at quarterback?

Probably. That’s the Steelers’ style now.

George Pickens is going to implode. He has zero chance to get stats.

Pitt is 3-0. Huzzah.

The Panthers probably aren’t as good as their record, either. But at least they’re exciting to watch. At least they go for it. Pitt is Pittsburgh’s fun football team.

The Steelers are excruciating to watch. It feels like we’re already in Week 11. The games take forever because nothing happens. We just wait for Chris Boswell to trot onto the field. That’s the high point.

It’s supposed to be fun to watch. That’s the whole point of buying a ticket or turning on the TV.

The Steelers got into the red zone twice at Denver. Not at all in the second half.

The Steelers got two first downs in the second half, one via penalty.

The Steelers committed 10 penalties for 78 yards. (Denver took nine flags for 124 yards. The game’s theme song should have been “Yakety Sax.”)

The main priority is, obviously, winning. But this is deadly dull. Really bad football.

The defense has played great. Huzzah.

Against a crippled Kirk Cousins at Atlanta and against a real bad rookie quarterback at Denver.

The Steelers could improve. Start by replacing Fields with Wilson ASAP. Fields hasn’t done enough to be QB1. Not even close.

But Fields likely will keep playing because he’s winning.

The Steelers are a poorly coached team. If you’re willing to see that, you will.

If you don’t see it, ask Broderick Jones.