PITTSBURGH (AP) — Justin Fields paused for a moment, trying to think of the right words. When they didn’t come, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback shrugged.

“I don’t think we’re one of those teams that’s looking for an identity,” Fields said afterward a 20-17 loss to Dallas that dropped the Steelers to 3-2. “We know who we are.”

After another close loss that ended early on Monday, you might wonder if that’s true, perhaps in part because Fields’ boss has dismissed questions about the sport’s most important position in recent weeks.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has gone out of his way to avoid making any claims about who the team’s starting quarterback is, repeatedly calling it a “hypothetical” while Russell Wilson – who earned the gig coming out of training camp – is slowly recovering from a calf injury a few days ago for the season opener.

That mentality has put Fields in a difficult position. He took significant steps forward in each of Pittsburgh’s first five games, evolving from game manager to dynamic playmaker. While Tomlin has praised Fields’ play, he repeatedly stopped short of naming Fields a full-time starter, regardless of Wilson’s status.

That decision could be a smart one in an era when few quarterbacks make all 17 starts, especially in Pittsburgh, where a QB1 has gone wire-to-wire since 2018. Yet it has also forced Fields into a high-wire act where every week feels like a tryout of sorts.

Although he hesitated recently when asked if there was more pressure than usual heading into the Dallas game as Wilson appears to be closing in on a return, Fields took a significant step back against the Cowboys, completing just 15 of 27 passes for 131 yards.

While Fields threw a few touchdowns – including a kick pass of 6 meters to Pat Freiermuth with 4:56 to go, putting the Steelers ahead — he also oversaw another lethargic first half that forced Pittsburgh into catch-up mode. He missed a few shots downfield in the first quarter and struggled to get into a rhythm with wide receiver George Pickens, who caught just three of the seven passes he caught.

Tomlin becomes increasingly irritated by his team’s slow start. It cost them in Indianapolis – which sprinted to a 17-0 lead – and should have cost them more than it actually did against Dallas. Only a few red zone turnovers from Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott kept the Steelers from trailing by several scores entering the break.

Things improved a bit in the second half, but Pittsburgh managed to complete 226 yards of total offense against missing stars Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence in the Dallas defense. That cannot be the norm in the future.

Which leads back to identity. Tomlin’s choice not to back one quarterback over another has led to a sense of indecision. The Steelers don’t have a distinct identity in part because Tomlin didn’t give them one. He has two very different quarterbacks with two very different skills at two very different times in their careers.

The sooner Tomlin lands on one QB, the sooner Pittsburgh can move forward with certainty and perhaps build a foundation that feels sturdier than the one Fields is currently standing on.

What works

Making TJ Watt do things with TJ Watt. The All-Pro outside linebacker became the second-fastest player to reach 100 career sacks when he scored 1 1/2 against Dallas, including combining with Nick Herbig for a strip sack that punctuated a Cowboys drive in the first half.

While Pittsburgh’s defense wasn’t at its best early on a night when it gave up 445 yards, Watt remains the rare type of defender who can change the arc of a game and possibly a season all at once.

What needs help

No matter who the quarterback is, the running game is a focal point. Still, yards were hard to come by in the first five games. The Steelers are determined to run it. They’re just not committed to executing it effectively. Najee Harris is averaging just 3.3 yards per carry, in part because the young offensive line in front of him has repeatedly had trouble creating enough space for Harris to get going.

Stock up

Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. desperately wants to be known as one of the league’s shutdown corners. He is making big steps in his second season. He helped keep Dallas star CeeDee Lamb in relative control and pulled in an interception in the fourth quarter who set up a late touchdown drive.

Stock down

Pickens is one of the most physically talented receivers in the league. While Tomlin believes the third-year pro has matured, there were signs late Sunday that Pickens remains a work in progress both on and off the field.

After Fields knocked him over in the fourth quarter as part of a drive that ended with a punt, Pickens walked off the field and threw his helmet on the ground so hard that it bounced over one of the benches on the Pittsburgh sideline.

Cameras captured Dallas cornerback Jourdan Lewis Calling Pickens ‘weak’ after the game. It may be time for Pickens to show some of the mental toughness that Tomlin has publicly said Pickens has developed.

Injuries

Herbig, who was electric in his second season, could be out for a while after injuring his right hamstring in the third quarter. DeMarvin Leal, who works as a hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker, left the field with a stinger. The Steelers are already without outside linebacker Alex Highsmith, who has missed two games with a groin injury.

Key number

1 — The number of players who reached 100 career sacks faster than Watt. Hall of Famer Reggie White needed just 96 games to reach the century mark.

Next steps

Find out who the starting quarterback will be – and stick with him – before heading to Las Vegas to take on the Raiders on Sunday.

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