The Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback room underwent a complete overhaul after the 2023 season. It began with the acquisition of veteran quarterback Russell Wilson. Shortly after, the Steelers seized an opportunity to trade for Justin Fields, giving them two capable starting quarterbacks. Upon trading for Fields, the team made it clear they wanted him to learn from Wilson.
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Steelers' Russell Wilson and Justin Fields run on the field before a game.
While Wilson was named the starter, a calf injury has sidelined him. He’s expected to reclaim the starting role once healthy, but analysts are beginning to speculate that Fields should remain the starter. Fields has made the most of his opportunities, and he’s looking more comfortable operating the offense.
Wilson missed the Week 2 matchup against the Denver Broncos, which would have been a revenge game for him. Missing the chance to face his former team was surely disappointing. NFL insider Jay Glazer revealed that Head Coach Mike Tomlin had hoped Wilson would be ready to play against the Broncos.
"Russell has a calf injury, which at first I was kind of looking at like, 'Does he really have one? Or does he just not want to get beat out by Justin?' But no, he actually has a real calf injury. MRI showed that there was a calf injury in there. But hey, I tell you what though, as Justin Fields gets more and more comfortable with this offense with Arthur Smith, it's going to be hard to pull back," Glazer said.
Glazer, who has close ties to Tomlin, confirmed the legitimacy of Wilson's calf injury. While it’s no surprise that Tomlin wanted to start Wilson against the Broncos, it underscores the faith he has in the veteran quarterback.
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Steelers' Mike Tomlin smiles with QB Justin Fields after he won the home run derby.
Once Wilson returns from injury, the quarterback situation will become even more intriguing. Glazer also shed light on Tomlin’s thought process behind wanting to start Wilson in the Broncos game, adding further insight into the coach's confidence in him.
"And I do know, here's the thing: I know Mike Tomlin wanted to go with Russell against the Broncos because, in Mike's mindset, he is like, 'As a man, you're going to want to get back at the team that discarded you,' right? So he just knew... he's going to have to want to do that, but the calf just wasn't healthy enough for him to do it."
Wilson has had a highly decorated career as a Super Bowl champion and nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback. However, there are questions about how much he has left at this stage. He joined the Steelers after winning just 11 games over two seasons with the Broncos, where he was cast aside and sought a fresh start in Pittsburgh.
Steelers' Justin Fields Playing Well In Pittsburgh
Fields' rise has complicated things for Wilson. He’s performed admirably in all three games, showing accuracy, consistency, and solid decision-making. His play is helping the Steelers win, and with an elite defense backing him—a luxury he didn’t have in the past—Fields is proving himself as a winning quarterback. If he continues to succeed, some are beginning to wonder if he’ll keep the starting job.
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Steelers' Justin Fields celebrates a touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024.
Meanwhile, Wilson is focused on getting healthy. The quarterback situation in Pittsburgh is becoming increasingly fascinating, with Steeler Nation starting to rally behind Fields. Either way the Steelers have two great options at quarterback. The defense is playing at a historic level and if they continue that type of play. The Steelers could be sneaky Super Bowl contenders.
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