Now, the big question remains: how long can Wilson hold onto the job? Tomlin has shown he’s not afraid to make a quarterback change midseason, as we saw last year with Kenny Pickett
The Pittsburgh Steelers have officially named Russell Wilson as their starting quarterback for the regular season, the team announced Wednesday.
Wilson, who coach Mike Tomlin said earlier this offseason was in the “pole position” for the job, will take the reins over Justin Fields when the Steelers open their season on the road against the Falcons in Week 1.
Tomlin acknowledged that it was a “tough decision,” and met with both quarterbacks to break the news.
Wilson, 35, and Fields, 25, have been locked in a battle for the starting role throughout the offseason, ever since both were brought in within weeks of each other. Despite Wilson being the frontrunner at the start of training camp, a calf injury sidelined him, opening the door for Fields to challenge for the spot.
While Fields made a push, he ultimately couldn’t close the gap on Wilson. The veteran QB held his ground, even while limited by injury, and played just one series in the Steelers’ preseason finale. That move by Tomlin hinted at where things were heading.
In limited preseason action, Wilson completed 10 of 12 passes for 73 yards. Fields had more extensive playing time, completing 19 of 27 passes for 199 yards and leading the team with 48 rushing yards.
Wilson’s career has had its ups and downs in recent years, but he bounced back statistically with the Broncos in 2023, throwing for 26 touchdowns and only eight interceptions. Despite that, the Broncos parted ways with Wilson after last season, absorbing a massive $53 million cap hit. The Steelers, meanwhile, are paying just $1.2 million of his salary this year. Fields, on the other hand, is making $3.2 million in the final year of his rookie contract after being traded from the Bears following the Wilson acquisition.
Now, the big question remains: how long can Wilson hold onto the job? Tomlin has shown he’s not afraid to make a quarterback change midseason, as we saw last year with Kenny Pickett. Although Pickett’s benching came after an injury, it’s clear Tomlin won’t hesitate to adjust if necessary.
While Wilson has been given the starting nod, Fields is still very much in the picture. Tomlin hinted that we might see some packages designed for Fields, utilizing his athleticism, even while reiterating that Wilson is the clear QB1 for now.
Wilson has started at least 14 games in each of his 12 NFL seasons, and he’ll look to extend that streak in the black and gold. But in the fiercely competitive AFC North, he’ll need to keep the Steelers in the hunt or risk the quarterback battle reigniting at some point during the season.
