Last week, Pittsburgh Steelers insider Mark Kaboly of The Athletic directly stated that "there is no chance," barring injury, that Justin Fields will be the Steelers' starting quarterback over Russell Wilson when Pittsburgh opens the regular season at the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 8.
Kaboly expanded on that take on Thursday on Pittsburgh sports radio station 93.7 The Fan.
"Zero," Kaboly said when asked about the percentage chance Fields will rise to the top of the depth chart by the end of August, per Matthew Marczi of Steelers Depot. "I just don't think there's enough time for that."
Pittsburgh acquired Wilson and Fields this offseason but isn't married to either beyond the 2024 campaign. Many thought throughout April that head coach Mike Tomlin would hold a legitimate quarterback competition through at least a portion of the preseason, but those who have watched the Steelers during organized team activities have made it clear the job is Wilson's to lose until further notice.
"It's being that type of leader that they haven't had in a number of years," Kaboly said about what Wilson offers the Steelers heading into the summer. "So I don't worry about Justin Fields right now. I think you worry about him next year."
Pittsburgh could approach Fields about signing a short-term, team-friendly contract extension between now and Week 1. It is unknown whether Fields would sign such a deal without knowing he'll play this fall.
"Watching [Justin Fields] in these two weeks, sometimes he looks like (future Hall of Famer) Ben Roethlisberger out there, and sometimes he looks like Mark Malone out there," Kaboly continued. "To be honest with you, that's just how I view it. He needs some more work to be done. You can see the talent. He's easily the most athletic guy out there. I mean, he just makes people look like fools out there in this setting. But you've got to be consistent, and that's what the issue was [when he was with the Chicago Bears from 2021-2023]."
NFL analyst Steven Ruiz of The Ringer believes the Steelers can be "an 11-to-12-win football team" if they get "average" quarterback play this season. While plenty can happen between now and the first day of September, Tomlin and company hope Wilson will give Pittsburgh what the club didn't have for the bulk of the 2023 campaign.
