The Pittsburgh Steelers brought in two potential starting quarterbacks during the 2024 offseason. Their journey began with the signing of Russell Wilson to a one-year veteran minimum deal, followed shortly by the trade of Kenny Pickett. Then, Pittsburgh seized another opportunity by acquiring Justin Fields, resulting in both Wilson and Fields in the Steel City.
Much discussion arose about which quarterback offered the Steelers the best chance to win in 2024. Many pundits leaned toward Fields, praising his athleticism and youth, while others felt it was clear that Wilson was the leader of the team. Ultimately, Wilson was named the starter, as the Steelers viewed him as their best option for immediate success. Reportedly, they informed Fields upon trading for him that they wanted him to learn from Wilson, potentially positioning him as the future of the franchise.
Wilson's calf injury opened the door for Fields, who has capitalized on the opportunity, leading the Steelers to a 3-1 start while performing impressively. Now that Wilson is nearing full health, questions arise about whether Fields will retain the starting job.
On Thursday, Fields was asked by Will Graves if he feels any pressure with Wilson's return on the horizon.
"Nah, not really, I’m just going to keep doing what I’ve been doing," Fields said. "Whatever decision he makes, he makes. I can only control what I can do on the field. I’m just going to go out there and keep doing what I’ve been doing."
Fields got off to a slow start this year, but that was by design. Steelers Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith chose to limit Fields' passing attempts in Week 1, but that strategy began to evolve as the season progressed. In Week 4 against the Indianapolis Colts, Steelers fans witnessed Fields face adversity head-on when the team fell behind 17-0 early in the game.
It was thrilling to see Fields lead the charge and give the Steelers a chance to tie or win the game in the final drive. Unfortunately, a botched snap derailed their chances, but the fact that Fields managed to rally the team back was exhilarating for fans. It was a glimpse of the resilience and leadership that Steelers supporters hadn't seen from a quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger's era.
Steelers' Justin Fields Making It Hard For Mike Tomlin To Replace Him
Fields has completed 70.6% of his passes for 830 yards, tossing three touchdowns and only one interception. He has also excelled as a runner, accumulating 38 carries for 145 rushing yards and three touchdowns. His dual-threat ability has added a valuable dimension to the offense, creating opportunities in the passing game as defenses must account for his running prowess.
While Fields has performed admirably, the Steelers remain high on Wilson. As Wilson continues to regain his health, it will be fascinating to see how the quarterback situation unfolds. During the 2023 season, Steelers fans witnessed Mike Tomlin’s willingness to stick with the hot hand, opting for Mason Rudolph over Pickett when he returned from injury. If Fields maintains his current level of play, a similar scenario could develop with Wilson.
