Analyst Predicts Justin Fields Will Beat Out Russell Wilson

Justin Fields on kickoffs? Jaylen Warren’s quote on a podcast has picked up some steam after he suggested that special teams coach Danny Smith said they could use Fields on kickoffs, even though that seems unlikely. He said that quote that has now made the rounds last Saturday. That’s cool. But Fields is going to be a vital part of the quarterback competition with Russell Wilson this Summer.

Since 2022, Fields has the most rushing yards by a quarterback with 1,800 yards and 6.3 yards per carry. Both figures are higher than Lamar Jackson’s. Fields is a dynamic runner, and his deep ball is impressive, too. So, it can not be ruled out that Fields might just be better than Wilson. Yahoo Sports analyst Frank Schwab thinks that.

“I have a bold prediction here, I don’t know if Russell Wilson ever starts a game for the Pittsburgh,” Schwab said on the Zero Blitz podcast. “I think Justin Fields is gonna win that job in August.”

Expect Justin Fields’s role in the offense to exist. Fields is simply too dynamic to keep on the bench even if he does not start, especially with Pittsburgh’s heavy rushing offense. But he will have to earn that job away from Wilson, who is known to be in ‘pole position’ to start training camp. Mike Tomlin has reiterated that multiple times.

Fields took a small step forward in 2023, his third year as Chicago’s starting quarterback. The Ohio State alum threw 370 times, completing 227 for 2,562 yards and 16 touchdowns. He threw nine interceptions and maintained an 86.3 passer rating and a 5.29 adjusted net yards per attempt.

In 2022, he was 192 of 318 for 2,242 yards, 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, an 85.2 quarterback rating and 4.63 adjusted net yards per attempt.

Wilson never meshed with Broncos head coach Sean Payton, but former Steelers running back and Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis thinks the nine-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion will excel under the tutelage of head coach Mike Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.

“He can play 100 percent. And he will be effective in this offense. He’s going to be good for this offense,” Bettis said during an appearance on The Joe Starkey Show Thursday morning.

It depends on who ends up playing better, and Wilson might have struggled some for Fields to make up that ground and win it. But Tomlin has been steadfast that Fields will have a chance to win the job this summer when presented the opportunity.