A new report has surfaced detailing potential challenges the Pittsburgh Steelers might face with quarterback Justin Fields and his camp this season.
The Steelers acquired Justin Fields from the Chicago Bears in exchange for a late-round pick, shortly before selecting USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. This trade followed Pittsburgh’s signing of ex-Denver Bronco Russell Wilson in free agency.
Following the Fields trade, head coach Mike Tomlin stated that Wilson would be the team’s starting quarterback. All indications from offseason activities suggest that the 35-year-old Wilson has outperformed Fields and has firmly secured the starting position.
However, a new report indicates that Fields’ agent is attempting to influence perceptions about the QB1 competition. Speaking on 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh, Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that Fields’ agent is feeding information to national reporters to bolster Fields’ market value for the 2025 free agency:
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“A lot of it has to do with agents and what they feed to the national reporters. I think Justin Fields’ agent wants people to believe that Justin is in this and that he’s still a viable quarterback on the open market. Whatever happens this year, whether he’s sitting on the bench all season, I think his agent wants to keep his name hot. It’s only natural for your rep to do this. Part of this is on the Steelers too, right? Because (Wilson and Fields) are both only signed to one-year contracts.”
This situation could become problematic for the Steelers if there is no genuine competition for the starting quarterback job. The last thing the team needs is Fields’ agent spreading rumors about his client’s chances of overtaking Wilson for the QB1 role.
Despite what some have called a “down year” for the nine-time Pro Bowler, Wilson still managed to complete 66.4 percent of his pass attempts for 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions last season.
Conversely, Fields has struggled with consistency throughout his first three seasons. Although he had his best season as a passer in 2023, he only threw for 2,562 yards and 16 touchdowns against nine interceptions.
While Wilson may not be in his prime anymore, he remains a solid option. His performance on a retooling Denver team, which lacked a strong supporting cast, was commendable. Moving to Pittsburgh’s star-studded offense, coupled with the guidance of a future Hall of Fame head coach, it is not far-fetched to believe that Wilson could contend for Comeback Player of the Year honors.
The Steelers will need to navigate this delicate situation carefully to ensure team cohesion and focus. With both Wilson and Fields on one-year contracts, the management of their roles and the narratives around them will be crucial for the team’s success this season.
