The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2024 season is the start of a new era. Russell Wilson is poised to be the starting quarterback, and while there are questions and some uncertainties, the future feels brighter than it has since Ben Roethlisberger's last few seasons.
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Steelers' Russell Wilson.
It is a big deal for the franchise and Wilson, whose future depends on how this season plays out. After taking the Seattle Seahawks to two Super Bowls and winning one, Wilson went to the Denver Broncos. Things did not go as expected, and Broncos Head Coach Sean Payton was willing to pay Wilson to go away.
Daniel Jeremiah from NFL Network appeared on The Rich Eisen Show and was asked about Wilson by Rich Eisen. Eisen said that from his perspective, this is Wilson's last chance to prove that he can still start in the league. However, he likes what he sees, saying the Steelers are "loaded for bear." Jeremiah agrees and says he also likes what he hears from his sources in the Steel City.
"I am really pleased with what I've heard coming out of there with Russ," said Jeremiah. "They've been impressed with how he's thrown with anticipation. His dedication and work ethic, it's been described to me as something that's been off the charts, he's there all the time. He's really worked to get to know his teammates and to develop those relationships. They're really bullish on him."
Since the 2023 season, the entire offense has undergone a radical transformation. That includes hiring new Offensive Coordinator, Arthur Smith, the new quarterbacks (particularly Wilson and Justin Fields), the commitment to the offensive line, and the changes to the wide receiver room.
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Steelers' Justin Fields watches Russell Wilson throw the ball.
All of this points to the return of smashmouth Steelers football. They haven't been quiet about their efforts to bolster the run game and improve the usage of their tight end, Pat Freiermuth, and running backs Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren. Jeremiah said he thinks they are on the verge of having something special.
"When I look at it from the outside, I love George Pickens," explained Jeremiah. "Roman Wilson's there, so I think they are one receiver away from getting the best out of Russ from a passing standpoint. When you look at what they've done, the investment in the offensive line and what they can do to maul you in the run game with those two backs, I think we see the formula. It's set up for that young Seattle formula for Russ. He's not the same, but I think he can go out there, protect the football, play efficiently, and they're over .500. We start there when it's a Mike Tomlin-coached team. I think the Pittsburgh Steelers are a playoff team."
Wilson told the media that he feels great. He certainly looked confident in Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and minicamp. It is a bit of an apples-to-oranges comparison since players don't wear pads or engage in full contact until training camp. Regardless, Wilson said that it felt "competitive."
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Steelers' Russell Wilson during a Pirates MLB game.
He wasn't alone in that feeling; Wilson said the whole team was high-energy and competitive. That's a positive sign for fans hoping to see their beloved team return to its playoff-winning ways.
Steelers' Justin Fields Didn't Get The Same Praise
While many media members were fascinated over Wilson's performance at minicamp, the opposite was true for Fields. There were reports that Fields did not appear as accurate as Wilson did. This didn't surprise some, who felt that this has been the story of Fields' career thus far.
Fields is fighting for his football life just as much as Wilson is. He needs to find a way to show the Steelers and other NFL teams that he still can be a solid starter in the league. In some ways, it might seem that the situation is more dire for Fields, who, at only 25 years old, has the potential to have a lot of life left in his career, while Wilson is undoubtedly on the back end of his.
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Steelers' Justin Fields.
What do you think about Jeremiah's comments regarding Wilson? How well do you think Wilson will play in 2024? What do you think will happen with Fields? Click to comment below.
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