The Pittsburgh Steelers have the entire month of February and a couple of weeks in March to try and re-sign either Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. The initial belief when the offseason began was that the veteran in Wilson would be the direction in which the franchise would decide to go, but most of that has toned down a little, especially since Wilson himself is the only one to say that he and the team were discussing the future. Art Rooney II told the media that he would like to bring one of the two back, but did not specify which signal-caller was preferred.
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Steelers President Art Rooney II roams the sidelines prior to a 2022 preseason matchup at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA.
A lot of reports have had conflicting realities when it comes to Wilson, but recently, Jay Glazer noted that the veteran isn't expected to be back in the Steel City. That directly contradicted what Wilson recently expressed on The Pat McAfee Show. Overall, it's anybody's guess as to what will transpire when it comes to the Steelers' quarterback situation in 2025 and beyond.
On Friday morning, another individual who reports in Pittsburgh gave a new twist to the ongoing speculation. Dejan Kovacevic of DK Pittsburgh Sports wrote that he has heard there's a lot more going on when it comes to the quarterback. In fact, a recent report by Gerry Dulac that suggested Wilson and Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith had massive issues towards the end of the year is completely false, according to Kovacevic. Instead, the main results were due to Wilson's inability to get rid of the ball and the fact he wasn't following the "play calls."
"I'm not at liberty to engage in a lot of details here, and I'd apologize for that except that this is how conversations like these can take place," Kovacevic wrote. "But I'm here to state as firmly as I possibly can that this nonsense that was echoed by a local newspaper earlier this week about how Wilson was suddenly handcuffed by Arthur Smith after a strong showing in Cincinnati ... was exactly that. Meaning nonsense."
This is a telling revelation if it is indeed true. This would hypothetically mean that someone in Wilson's camp decided to leak the information to Dulac to preserve Wilson's image. It's almost important to note that Dulac was the first one to break the news that Wilson was expected to sign in Pittsburgh, so it's possible he has an insider within Wilson's circle.
Gene J. Puskar / ap photo
Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson prepares to unleash a pass as the team plays a home game at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA.
Kovacevic made it very clear that the Steelers have no interest at all in bringing Wilson back to be the team's quarterback in 2025. He noted that there was "no chance" the former Super Bowl champion would be in the Steel City moving forward. He validated claims that someone within Wilson's camp has been leaking information to try and save his reputation.
"I'm told that Wilson's agents, part of his voluminous entourage, put forth that narrative, and they did so in an apparent attempt to either preserve his status in Pittsburgh, or enhance the chance that another team might want him as a starter."
Chess matches occur all the time in professional sports. Information is intentionally leaked, whether true or false, to help control whatever narrative is currently out there. This could be another example of that, and while it all unfolds, Pittsburgh's management could be discussing with Fields' team in an attempt to get an extension done before the versatile quarterback is set to hit free agency in March.
Sebastian Foltz / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers quarterbacks Justin Fields (#2) and Russell Wilson (#3) stretch on the field as the team gets ready to practice during Organized Team Activities at the UPMC Sports Complex in Pittsburgh, PA.
Steelers Could Potentially Explore Different Options At The Quarterback Position
If Kovacevic's reporting is accurate and Wilson is on his way out, it makes one wonder what the true plan is for the position. Fields is probably the primary focus, but there is no guarantee that the organization and him end up working something out before mid-March. This would likely be preferred by a fan base that was enamored with his abilities during the six-game stretch in which he started at the beginning of the 2024 campaign. Overall, all of this seems fishy when it comes to Wilson.
Do you think that Wilson's team is leaking false information to preserve his reputation? Let us know in the comments below!
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