The Pittsburgh Steelers are set to unveil arguably the most fascinating quarterback room in the NFL this season, with a potential battle for the starting job between Russell Wilson and Justin Fields looming this summer.
When the Steelers acquired Fields for the meager price of a sixth-round draft choice, on the heels of signing Wilson to a veteran-minimum contract worth $1.2 million for the 2024 season, the assumption was Wilson would walk into the role of QB1 with Fields potentially spending a season holding a clipboard and learning behind the former All-Pro.
According to Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, that might not wind up being the case, at all.
During the NFL annual meeting, Tomlin, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, told reporters that Wilson “has the pole position,” as OTAs, minicamp, and training camp looms.
However, Tomlin stopped far short of naming Wilson the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Week 1 quarterback.
“When it’s time to compete,” Tomlin told reporters. “Justin will be given an opportunity to show his capabilities,”
Wilson arrives in the Iron City with the pedigree of winning a Super Bowl and making nine Pro Bowl appearances.
However, Wilson’s tenure with the Denver Broncos was an abject disaster, culminating with his benching late in the 2023 season to avoid triggering an injury guarantee and the Broncos absorbing $85 million in dead money for the 2024 and 2025 campaigns just to release him.
Meanwhile, Fields showed promise down the stretch of the 2023 season but has yet to live up to his top-15 pick billing.
What Might Justin Fields’ Role be for Pittsburgh Steelers?
Even if Wilson goes wire-to-wire as the winner of the Steelers quarterback competition, not everyone inside the league is convinced that Tomlin will leave Fields on the bench as a traditional backup quarterback.
Pittsburgh is betting that Fields, 25, will benefit from a change of scenery and the opportunity to lead coordinator Arthur Smith’s run-based offense will unlock his upside.
One current NFL executive envisions a scenario where the Steelers have a package of plays for Fields, even if he’s not the starter.
“Just imagine what Fields could do in short-yardage situations,” the executive told me recently. “Justin could be really effective near the goal line. Plus, if it just isn’t Russ’s game, Fields could open up the running game a lot more with him in there at quarterback.”
A career-60.3 percent passer for 6,674 yards with 40 touchdowns to 30 interceptions, Fields now lands in an offense that features field-stretching receiver George Pickens, reliable tight end Pat Freiermuth, and a scheme that should allow him to make big plays with his legs after rushing for 2,220 yards and 14 touchdowns through his first 40 NFL games.
“Man,” Tomlin told reporters, of Fields. “There’s a lot of meat left on that bone.”
How the Steelers’ quarterback competition plays out is anyone’s guess at this point, but it sure seems to be anything but a coronation at this point.
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