Russell Wilson is set to head into his first season with the Pittsburgh Steelers looking over his shoulder.
The veteran was announced as the starting quarterback for the AFC North team on Wednesday, but that hardly means the QB1 position is his to keep.
According to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, head coach Mike Tomlin had meetings with both quarterbacks to speak to them about their roles and said it was a “difficult decision” to name Russ as the starter.
“Russell Wilson is the Steelers starter, Mike Tomlin says,” Pryor wrote in a tweet. “He just met with both QBs and told them the decision. He calls it a “difficult decision.”
It’s understood that Wilson has been told that he won’t be given much margin for error, with Fields ready to be pushed in should he misstep at any point this upcoming season.
Russell Wilson is the Steelers starter, Mike Tomlin says.
He just met with both QBs and told them the decision. He calls it a “difficult decision.”
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) August 28, 2024
Russell Wilson Likely Feels Misled By Mike Tomlin
Wilson joined Pittsburgh as a free agent because he thought he would be the starting quarterback, but the team acquired Fields via trade just three days later. It’s unlikely he would have signed with the Steelers had he been aware of the possibility of being benched, potentially for most of the season.
Of course, the fact that Fields will be tugging at his heels could hand Wilson the chip on his shoulder he needs to resurrect the Pro Bowl QB the Denver Broncos thought they traded for, but he will probably still feel misled by Tomlin as he will have to fight for his place all season.
The veteran nearly lost the starting job due to a calf strain early in training camp, handing Fields an opportunity to stake his claim in preseason. However, the younger QB did not make the most of it, finishing the preseason with three fumbled snap exchanges and five sacks.
