The Pittsburgh Steelers offense will look very different in 2024. Kenny Pickett has been traded away to the Philadelphia Eagles after two seasons of subpar play. To replace him, the team brought in former Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson and traded for former Bears quarterback Justin Fields. Many assumed Wilson would be the starter in week 1 due to his past pedigree. However, reports indicate the team is being more “open-minded” about their quarterback competition.
Pittsburgh Steelers QB Competition
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin indicated in March that Russell Wilson was in “pole position” for the starting gig. However, he didn’t rule out the possibility of Fields starting. He has a real shot at grabbing the starting spot. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that the team is “open-minded.”
“Fields definitely has work to do to catch Wilson in the race for the starting job, but the Steelers are open-minded about his ability to do so. The important thing to keep in mind here is that the Steelers have no prior connection to either of these quarterbacks and no compelling financial commitment that would lead them to favor one over the other. So when they say it’s an open competition and Fields has a chance, believe them.”
The key point Fowler makes here is that they are not tied to either quarterback financially, nor do they have a history with either of them. If Wilson doesn’t like that Fields steals his job, the Steelers are not on the hook for a huge part of his salary like the Denver Broncos were. It gives the team the freedom to choose who they think will give them the best chance to win games. While Wilson’s resume is more impressive, it’s hard to ignore the upside of Justin Fields.
Does Fields Have A Shot?
The former Bears quarterback has already shown he can be a dual-threat quarterback in the league. He rushed for over 1,100 yards two years ago, which is something new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith must love. Fields already got a break in training camp. Wilson had a minor calf injury, and the team kept him out of practice as a precaution. This gave Fields the first-team reps with the Pittsburgh Steelers offense.
Videos from training camp showed some impressive throws from Fields. Many believe the former Ohio State product simply did not have a good supporting cast around him in Chicago. Now that he is with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he could flourish. Mike Tomlin has built a great culture, and this team is primed for another winning season, even in a tough AFC conference.
This is one of the most fun positional battles to watch during training camp. No matter what happens, the debate will also spill over into the year. If the player who wins the starting job starts to struggle, fans will start debating whether they should make a switch. The Pittsburgh Steelers have much of their roster set, but who they choose to have under center in week 1 may be the most critical decision of their 2024 season.
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