The Pittsburgh Steelers entered the third week of the preseason as one of two NFL teams — along with the New England Patriots — yet to formally announce its starting quarterback for Week 1.
Russell Wilson and Justin Fields have competed for Pittsburgh’s QB1 role throughout training camp and the exhibition season. Wilson’s early-camp calf injury appeared to tilt the battle in Fields’ direction, but the Steelers’ preseason finale indicated that the elder quarterback is still the strong favorite for starting duties.
Preseason Suggests Russell Wilson Is Steelers’ QB1
Wilson started the Steelers’ third preseason game on Saturday, leading Pittsburgh to a touchdown on his only drive. He completed two passes, including a 32-yarder to George Pickens down the left sideline.
Wilson looked better than he did in Week 2, when the Steelers posted four punts and a missed field goal on his five drives. The 35-year-old was playing against the Detroit Lions’ backup defense today, but his performance appears to have been enough for head coach Mike Tomlin.
Russ finds Pickens 👀
📺: #PITvsDET on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/h1UfOJUZWH— NFL (@NFL) August 24, 2024
Pittsburgh pulled Wilson after his sole drive, suggesting he’s the club’s likely starter. While Tomlin said he won’t officially decide between Wilson and Fields until the club’s upcoming week of practice concludes, ESPN Steelers reporter Brooke Pryor said she’d be surprised if Wilson isn’t the choice.
“We just needed results that are indicative of how we’ve worked,” Tomlin said after the game. “And so they were able to put together a scoring drive and really just provided an opportunity to get Justin in there sooner.”
The Steelers signed Wilson to a one-year contract in March after the Denver Broncos released him. Because Denver is still paying Wilson $39 million in 2024, Pittsburgh was able to land the former Super Bowl winner on a league-minimum contract.
Tomlin maintained throughout the offseason that Wilson was in “pole position” to start ahead of Fields, whom the Steelers acquired from the Chicago Bears in exchange for a conditional sixth-round pick.
Will Tomlin be making a mistake if he chooses Wilson as Pittsburgh’s starter?
Why the Steelers Should Start Justin Fields
Wilson missed roughly a week of training camp after suffering a calf injury during a conditioning test. His injury left the door open for Fields to take the Steelers’ QB1 job, and the former first-round pick reportedly turned heads with his practice performances.
However, Fields didn’t exactly light the world on fire once preseason games got underway. With Wilson sitting out Week 1, Fields fumbled two snaps and was sacked twice.
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He improved in Week 2 but remained inconsistent; PFF charted Fields with two turnover-worthy throws on 23 dropbacks. In Week 3, he played two drives after Wilson, completing three of four attempts for 40 yards while absorbing two more sacks and fumbling another snap.
Those repeated mistakes won’t fly with Tomlin — we know that much. Wilson is the far safer selection for a conservative coach like Tomlin, but Fields makes more sense from a 50,000-foot view.
At 25, Fields is a decade younger than Wilson. The Steelers probably aren’t a realistic Super Bowl threat with either quarterback under center. So why not see what the younger, higher-upside option can do?
ABSOLUTE DOT 🎯
📲 Stream on NFL+: https://t.co/iu7bDTXJ4C pic.twitter.com/RK2UIo9pVN
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) August 18, 2024
Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports reported this week that Pittsburgh believes its 2025 starting quarterback is on its roster. In other words, the Steelers don’t intend to draft a quarterback next spring or cross their fingers that Dak Prescott becomes available.
They want Wilson or Fields — both of whom are in contract years — in town next year. Clearly, Fields is a more viable option for the future than Wilson, even if the older quarterback is the more reliable choice at the moment.
Neither pass is a perfect fit for new Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s scheme, which emphasizes play action and throws over the middle. But Fields’ rushing ability could be a trump card that Wilson can’t match.
Since 2021, Fields has generated more EPA on scrambles than any other quarterback except for Josh Allen, per TruMedia. He’s a punishing runner at 6’3″, 228 pounds. Fields ranks first in yards per contact per attempt and third in rush attempts per broken tackle over the past three years.
While the Steelers will likely begin the season with Wilson as their starting quarterback, don’t be surprised if Fields makes his way into the lineup sooner rather than later.