There doesn’t seem to be much of a quarterback controversy between Russell Wilson and Justin Fields during the Pittsburgh Steelers OTAs this spring. The Steelers brought in the two former starting quarterbacks this offseason to compete for the QB1 job.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a QB plan
Head coach Mike Tomlin announced before OTAs that it was Wilson’s job to lose. Fields, for whom the Steelers traded a conditional 2025 draft pick to the Bears, is set to learn behind Wilson during OTAs. However, Fields made it clear he wants the starting job in Week 1. The Steelers should give Fields a chance to crack the QB1 spot because he’s the team’s most logical starting option for the 2025 season.
Russell Wilson is securing the QB1 job
According to Mark Kaboly with The Athletic, Wilson is blowing away Fields during the voluntary portion of OTAs:
Wilson was entrenched as QB1 for the past three weeks and did absolutely nothing to suggest that three minicamp practices, 16 or so training camp practices and two preseason games (the starters likely won’t play in one of the three) will change that.
Justin Fields is the fallback option; Wilson is providing leadership
The Steelers view Fields as a “fallback” option should Wilson go down this season. Per Kaboly, Wilson is the better all-around quarterback for the Steelers:
The first thing that jumps out about Wilson is his leadership, followed by his work ethic and overall likability, at least from afar. Yeah, his diminutive stature is in there somewhere as well.
But as far as tangible football traits, the guy still has the arm talent from when he played for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson has big hands (I shook his hand, or maybe he shook mine first), and that helps explain the zip and the accuracy he showed in OTAs, whether it was a dump-off in the flat or a deep ball to Quez Watkins.
Fields would do wise to use this season as an opponent to learn from Wilson. Fields should get a chance to lead the offense, but unlike his time with the Bears, he should wait for an opportunity when he’s actually ready.
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