The modifier “anticipated starter” or some variation thereof appeared earlier than Russell Wilson’s identify in lots of stories of his offseason signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Even with the staff buying and selling for Justin Fields consistent with buying Wilson, the notion that Wilson’s expertise would steer him to the Steelers’ beginning quarterback job seemingly prevailed.
That Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin made issues official on Wednesday shouldn’t be a shock. However Tomlin additionally didn’t hold secrets and techniques about Wilson’s obvious brief leash when he appeared on “The Wealthy Eisen Present” that very same day.
Chatting with the host whereas not directly addressing the coach of the Atlanta Falcons, who Pittsburgh visits in Week 1, Tomlin mentioned: “My pal Raheem Morris higher be prepared for a Justin Fields bundle. There’s an excessive amount of expertise to be standing round watching.”
Simply not sufficient to take the reins from the get-go, even with a stable however not spectacular preseason.
Wilson, 35, and Fields, 25, each are on one-year offers as Pittsburgh pivots from the Kenny Pickett Period. Wilson, hobbled for a lot of preseason with a calf harm, owns a Tremendous Bowl ring plus one other deflating, runner-up end. Fields has terrific mobility and a first-round pedigree that foundered amid teaching and personnel uncertainty throughout his three seasons in Chicago.
Becoming a member of a franchise that’s solely employed three head coaches since 1969 steered Fields may relaxation straightforward about who might or might not be guiding him. Tomlin isn’t on a proverbial “sizzling seat,” nor ought to he be after serving to Pittsburgh to 10 victories final season regardless of inconsistency below heart.
The Steelers allowed the sixth-fewest factors within the NFL whereas working backs Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren capably gained yardage and consumed clock in a run-oriented assault.
A well-known formulation looms in 2024, with the Steelers merely hoping even the slightest QB improve may increase their fortunes within the AFC North.
Once more, they’re banking on Wilson to channel the Tremendous Bowl XLVIII champion greater than the model who went 11-19 in Denver over two seasons and left the Broncos with a report dead-cap hit.
“The moments can’t be too large for a man that’s been at it so long as he has and has seen the issues that he’s seen,” Tomlin instructed Eisen. “He’s had that confetti rain down on him. It’s not hypothesis; it’s not dreaming for him; he’s lived it.
“And I feel that if you expertise issues this sport—be it a participant or a coach, or quarterback, or head coach—I simply assume there’s profit in having lived and seen it.”
Even earlier than Tomlin’s testimony, followers may envision a path that gave Wilson the keys to the offense in addition to the understanding he needed to carry out to maintain them.
Let Fields give opposing defenses one thing to scout within the early season in a potential RPO bundle? OK. However how lengthy earlier than he will get the prospect to point out all of it because the starter?
Everyone knows about Wilson’s ceiling. Which depths, although, would he have to succeed in for Pittsburgh to make a change?
Wilson obtained the beginning nod after Fields gained numerous training-camp expertise with the Steelers first staff.
Fields was 19-for-27 passing for 199 yards and a 91.4 passer ranking throughout preseason and remained a risk for explosive performs as a runner. A pair of fumbled exchanges with the middle in his first preseason sport, nevertheless, “negated quite a lot of good issues,” Tomlin mentioned.
Certainly, Fields’ athleticism is his calling card and a promoting level. Nonetheless, his shakiness as a downfield passer, one thing his bosses in Chicago couldn’t treatment, is there, too.
One needn’t have a pal named Raheem Morris to comprehend what’s growing within the Steelers’ quarterback room.
Russ certainly can have his likelihood to cook dinner. This time, although, there’ll be a youthful and faster sous chef who invitations intrigue, too.
