Steelers' Russell Wilson On Short Leash; Mike Tomlin Will Quickly Replace Him For Poor Performance

Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin made the official announcement regarding the starting quarterback for the 2024 season opener. The statement that Russell Wilson was getting the nod shouldn't have shocked anyone. Tomlin has said all along that he was giving the nine-time Pro Bowler "pole position" over the younger Justin Fields. 

After the announcement, Wilson told the media that he was thrilled with the decision. He feels that the hard work, not just from him, but from the entire team, has paid off. Ever since signing with Pittsburgh, Wilson said he has tried to bring positive energy to the team and lend his experiences to the offense. 

Ever since the Steelers traded for Fields, questions have been raised about who should be the starter and how long of a leash Tomlin should give Wilson. Fields has shown to be incredibly dynamic and an elusive runner, but he struggles with consistency. His talent was on display during the preseason, but so was his propensity for taking sacks. 

The debate continued on ESPN's show Get Up when host Mike Greenberg asked fellow host Damien Woody about Wilson's job security. He said if Wilson isn't playing well in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons, could he see himself benched by halftime in favor of Fields? 

"That might be a little bit too spicy, but not far beyond that. When you're playing in the AFC North, the toughest division in football, you can't afford to fall behind. Those first two games are on the road, at the Falcons, at Denver. Can you imagine if Pittsburgh starts 0-2? Russell Wilson doesn't play well? You know what's going to be going on in Pittsburgh? They're going to be calling for Justin Fields to get on the field. There's not going to be much leash for Russell Wilson."

There are legitimate concerns that Wilson's best playing days are behind him. Even Tomlin said the decision was "difficult," but not in a negative fashion, instead they are both so talented it was hard to decide. 

Tomlin also indicated that they may weaponize Fields and use him in a variety of creative packages. If Fields is coming in for gadget plays, does that make it even easier to slide him in as the starter if Wilson struggles? Woody thinks Wilson will have to have a solid start to the season, regardless. He won't be given much grace just because he won a Super Bowl a decade ago. 

"You heard Mike Tomlin talk about how it was basically Russell Wilson's resume throughout his whole career that made him the favorite for the starting job," said Woody. "But once we get out there on the field, you gotta go out there and prove it."

Both Wilson and Fields are on one-year contracts in the Steel City, and they both likely feel that they have something to prove. Wilson wants to prove that the Denver Broncos were wrong about him and that he can still perform at a high level. Fields wants to prove that the scouts weren't wrong about him, that he does possess the talent they said he did, and that he is able to channel that into efficient quarterback play. 

Steelers' Offensive Line Isn't Helping

For the past few seasons, the Steelers' offense has struggled with a mediocre coordinator, poor performance from the line, and inconsistent quarterback play. They have invested heavily in the past two drafts in the line, and during 2023, it appeared it was starting to pay off. 

But this preseason raised questions about how much progress the line had made. Neither Wilson nor Fields was able to avoid pressure or stay upright consistently. The depth is going to be put to the test as injuries abound. The lone bright spot is rookie center Zach Frazier. For Wilson or Fields to succeed, the offensive line has to offer protection and give them time to make plays.

How long do you think Tomlin will or should give Wilson if he comes out underperforming? Click to comment below. 

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