The Pittsburgh Steelers began to immediately improve the quarterback room with the acquisition of former Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson. However, the team then shocked the NFL world by also trading for former Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields.
Read more: Pittsburgh Steelers News: Russell Wilson Welcomes Justin Fields With Class, as a Leader Should
Wilson treated the situation with class, stating that he was excited to work with Fields. Fields, on the other hand, made it a point to be known that he was gunning for the starting position. That is not all that shocking, but it appears that the Steelers coaching staff is also letting the quarterback battle play out.
Back in March, head coach Mike Tomlin revealed that Wilson will have the “pole position” in terms of having the starting job. That means he will set the pace and is considered to be the starter, but positions can change. Fields will have every opportunity to compete for the job.
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That same sentiment was recently shared by offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who reiterated the phrase when speaking to reporters on Tuesday. Smith stated, “Russ is in the pole position. It’s a competition. Obviously, we get to Latrobe, I’m sure things will heat up, but both those guys knew that, however they were acquired, and they got here and I think it’s been pretty transparent.”
Smith indicated that Wilson is still in the proverbial driver’s seat, but that does not mean that Fields is out of the running for the job. The Steelers still have training camp and preseason to determine their starter, but the quarterback battle is still alive and well.
Wilson does have the benefit of 12 seasons under his belt. He will be heading into his 13th season, but his experience doesn’t immediately dictate that he should start. Wilson had some glaring issues while playing for the Broncos, and that could be a big reason why Smith and Tomlin want to let the quarterback battle play out a bit more.
Fields, on the other hand, only has three seasons to his name. He has also had his own up-and-down career with the Bears, but he is far younger than Wilson. Fields could benefit from sitting behind a seasoned veteran, but it wouldn’t be the least bit surprising if he leaps ahead to become the starter.
Credit should go to Steelers general manager Omar Khan for securing two solid quarterbacks in the offseason. Should Wilson start but be hurt or not cut it, Fields can step in and help lead the team to a hopeful playoff berth.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
