When the Pittsburgh Steelers traded for Justin Fields from the Chicago Bears this offseason, many assumed the move was intended to develop the rookie quarterback behind Russell Wilson. However, this may not be the case. Wilson will enter training camp as the team’s starting quarterback, but that might change. At this point, the Steelers see the quarterback fight as a genuine competition. Wilson will have to earn the starting job, and Fields will be given the opportunity to show that he, too, deserves it.
David Carr, an NFL Network analyst and former quarterback, feels Fields has a legitimate shot at starting for the Pittsburgh Steelers this season. “I believe it is a true rivalry since you don’t always know where Justin Fields is, such as his headspace. How does he feel going into this? If we get the physical dominant athlete that we’ve seen with Justin, I believe he has untapped potential as a football thrower. I don’t sure if Russ’s ability and experience mean as much in this Arthur Smith attack as they might on other teams.”
A Look at the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Quarterback Competition Russell Wilson is certainly the front-runner for the Week 1 starting job. He is coming off a strong season with the Denver Broncos in 2023 and was a top priority signing. He also got along well with head coach Mike Tomlin during his free agent visit with the organization.
Regardless of these statistics, the Pittsburgh Steelers traded for Fields because they believed he had true starting potential. Clearly, they believe he has a great future, or else they would have kept Kenny Pickett to grow behind Wilson. Fields has shown flashes of greatness on occasion. It’s unfair to judge him just on his time with the Bears. No quarterback has found success in Chicago in a long time, and the offensive line during his tenure was poor.
Fields has superior dual-threat abilities for the Pittsburgh Steelers at this point in his career as compared to Wilson. He also has strong arm muscles. He appears to lack decision-making ability and field vision. If Fields can improve his game in those two key areas this offseason, he’ll make a significant step forward in his growth. This would make the QB competition far more exciting.
In addition to these considerations, Wilson has experienced significant ups and downs in recent years. If the Pittsburgh Steelers begin the 2024 season slowly, going to Fields makes sense. They are excited about their two new quarterbacks and will not hesitate to make changes if things aren’t working. All things considered, Justin Fields has a legitimate shot at being the Steelers’ starting quarterback. It will be an exciting competition to watch, but Fields is in a wonderful position, and all of the emphasis is on Wilson to perform consistently well.
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