The Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback battle has been like a pendulum this offseason. When the Steelers turned over the quarterback room, Head Coach Mike Tomlin said he would give Russell Wilson "pole position" as the starter over Justin Fields. That makes sense, as Wilson has been in the league for much longer than Fields and with vastly more success. The former nine-time Pro Bowler has been to two Super Bowls and won one.
But then Wilson injured his calf, supposedly pushing a blocking sled, and Fields took the reps with the first-team offense. Suddenly, the conversation began to change. Fields looked solid. While there were some errors early on, he seemed to be improving compared to where he was with the Chicago Bears. That had the media and fans predicting that Fields would start over Wilson or, at the very least, steal his job relatively quickly. Until Fields had some struggles in the first preseason game, and now suddenly, the pendulum has swung back to Wilson. Tomlin has already indicated that Wilson will start against the Buffalo Bills in the second preseason game of 2024.
Former Steelers safety Ryan Clark has been a huge fan of Fields ever since Pittsburgh traded for him. While Clark has said that he thinks Wilson will start the season, he has always maintained that Tomlin will quickly switch over to Fields. However, Clark has apparently adjusted his view on just how and when that will happen. Clark recently spent time at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA, visiting with his former team. He said he had an opportunity to ask about the quarterback situation. Clark then appeared on First Take and was asked which quarterback he thinks will have more starts.
"I was at that camp, I got an opportunity to watch those guys practice, talk to Minkah Fitzpatrick, the defensive players. Everybody raved about both of these quarterbacks, but for different reasons, and that's why I believe it's going to be Russell Wilson who gets the most starts. They talked about the way he commanded the offense. Minkah Fitzpatrick talked about the discussions that he and Russell Wilson would have after practice, 'What are you seeing here?' 'Why did you get the football out of your hand?' The total leadership and command that he has on the offense right now is much higher than Justin Fields."
That doesn't mean Clark is dismissing Fields. He added that he believes Tomlin and new Offensive Coordinator, Arthur Smith, see the potential in Fields and understand his ceiling. But Pittsburgh is coming off of "below-average quarterback play" from Kenny Pickett. He expects they will get above-average play and even win the AFC North, thanks to Wilson and the new offensive players they brought in.
First Take co-host Chris Russo agreed. He added that because of Wilson's history of success in the league, it would be much easier to go to Fields than to have Wilson start as backup.
Steelers' Russell Wilson's Impact Is Undeniable
Wilson has only been in the Steel City for a few months, but he has already made an indelible impression on his teammates and the city of Pittsburgh. Upon his arrival, he didn't waste any time: He worked out with his new teammates, attended Pittsburgh Pirates and Pittsburgh Penguins games, and participated in charity events.
Wide receiver George Pickens recently sang Wilson's praises after practice, saying that he is more vocal than other quarterbacks and that his enthusiasm is his best trait. It isn't just the offensive players who are glad to have Wilson under center; the defensive players are also speaking up. Defensive tackle Cameron Heyward advocated for Wilson to come to the Black and Gold.
Having Wilson on the team also helped draw Patrick Queen (who used to play for the AFC North rival, Baltimore Ravens), over to the Steel City. Queen has said he was attracted to the Steelers' decades of success and appreciates how they value excellence.
