The Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2) are touring to Las Vegas to tackle the Raiders (2-3) in Week 6. Each groups have query marks at quarterback and are hoping to achieve some readability this weekend.
Listed here are three Steelers who may influence the sport probably the most:
Quarterback Justin Fields
Fields’ leash appears to be getting fairly quick following back-to-back losses. He’s in line to make his sixth straight begin however quarterback Russell Wilson is able to play if wanted after practicing in full this week.
“I am making ready my thoughts to get able to go and every little thing else,” Wilson said. “In order that’s type of my mentality and assist us win and no matter that’s.”
Whether or not that occurs can be depending on Fields’ play on Sunday. He hasn’t accomplished something to lose the job, however he hasn’t accomplished something to maintain it, both.
By means of 5 video games, Fields has thrown for 961 yards and 5 touchdowns whereas additionally speeding for 172 yards and one other three scores.
The No. 11 general decide from 2021 may maintain off Wilson for one more week with a powerful efficiency. If not, nonetheless, Wilson could make his regular-season debut.
Vast receiver George Pickens
Pickens has been the speak of the city since his poor displaying throughout Pittsburgh’s Week 5 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on “Sunday Evening Soccer.”
The third-year huge receiver wore black eye tape that learn “Open (expletive) Always,” showed very little effort throughout his route-running on a number of events and pulled the face mask of Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis because the clock hit zero.
To cap all of it off, Pickens completed the sport with simply three catches for a season-low 26 yards.
Regardless of all of that, although, Pickens’ coaches and teammates have defended him this week.
“Is George a nasty teammate? Completely not,” Wilson said. “Is George a hell of a participant? Completely. Is he a terrific competitor? Completely. Is he a man that desires the ball? Completely.”
If Pickens acts equally this week, it is not going to solely damage the Steelers’ probabilities of successful, but additionally his probabilities of remaining in Pittsburgh.
Linebacker Patrick Queen
Las Vegas’ offense will look very completely different on Sunday in comparison with a few weeks in the past.
This week, Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce named second-year quarterback Aidan O’Connell the starter whereas additionally confirming that huge receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) will miss his second straight sport.
Steelers DC Teryl Austin is aware of that may be a large loss for the Raiders, however emphasised that his protection should nonetheless be on prime of its sport.
“When you have got Davante, you already know you’d higher care for him,” Austin said. “They’re spreading it round and everyone is ready to get it and dealing arduous to get it, we have got to be actually on prime of our stuff.”
One participant who’s being requested to do extra with Adams sidelined is first-round rookie tight finish Brock Bowers. The No. 13 general decide within the 2024 NFL Draft already has 28 catches for 313 yards and a landing on the 12 months.
Queen will possible be given the duty of minimizing Bowers’ influence in the midst of the sector on Sunday and Austin is greater than assured in him getting the job accomplished.
“I feel he is enjoying actually good soccer for us,” Austin mentioned of Queen. “He’s main us on the market. He’s operating and hitting. He is doing all of the issues we thought he would do after we obtained him.”
All quotations obtained firsthand except in any other case famous.
