“i don’t want to stay” The Pittsburgh Steelers apparently did not make a vital promise to Russell Wilson .

The Pittsburgh Steelers apparently did not make a vital promise to Russell Wilson prior to his signing.

When Wilson was signed, it was assumed that he would be the starting quarterback over Kenny Pickett. Then, in the space of a few days, Pickett was moved to the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Steelers acquired Justin Fields. Pittsburgh now has serious competition to challenge Wilson for the starting job.

Russell Wilson’s salary is $1.21 million in 2024.

While Wilson performed well in Sean Payton’s system last season, there was widespread suspicion in the NFL that his stats were exaggerated. He is still considered a starter quarterback in the NFL, but Fields’ rushing skills and potential as a passer give him a good chance to win the starting job in training camp.

New York missed out on Wilson because they did not promise him a chance to start. Las Vegas immediately signed Gardner Minshew to a two-year contract worth $15 million guaranteed, but it did not guarantee him a starting spot. While Wilson was first off the board, it appears he faced the similar circumstance in Pittsburgh.

Russell Wilson 2023 stats: 3,070 passing yards, 26-8 touchdown-interception ratio, 66.4 percent completion rate.

However, according to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, the Steelers “didn’t give any” assurances to Wilson that he would be their starting quarterback by 2024. Pittsburgh made it plain that the position had to be earned, a challenge the former Super Bowl champion accepted.

Wilson would seemingly be the favorite to start in Week 1, but it is going to be a back-and-forth competition. Neither Fields nor Wilson are a great fit in offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s offense, given they rarely throw over the middle. Both quarterbacks also have similar flaws – high sack rates and turnovers – which makes this one of the most interesting battles to watch this summer.

For now, it’s assumed that Wilson will likely open the season as the Steelers starting quarterback. However, both he and Fields will likely receive plenty of opportunities to play this fall. The better performer could earn a new contract from Pittsburgh next offseason.