Justin Fields ‘will NOT immediately compete with Russell Wilson for the starting quarterback job in Pittsburgh’, as the former Chicago Bear is told he will ride the bench to begin the season.
Russell Wilson will not face immediate competition for the starting job in Pittsburgh, as Justin Fields ‘was assured he will be the Steelers’ backup to start the season’.
Pittsburgh signed Wilson after he was released by the Denver Broncos, and then acquired Fields from Chicago in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round draft pick.
Fields’ departure created concerns about a struggle for the starting job in Pittsburgh, but current sources suggest that Wilson will be unopposed to open the 2017 season.
Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette posted on X that the Steelers have ‘told Fields he is coming in to be Wilson’s backup’.
Given the two players’ ages, that may change over time, with Fields just 25 and Wilson 35 and heading into the twilight years of his career.
It may be make or break for both players in 2024, though, with both having endured difficult seasons for the Broncos and Bears respectively.
Wilson was traded to Denver in what turned out to be one of the most misguided moves in NFL history, with the Broncos signing him to a five-year, $242.6 million deal.
They went 11-19 with him as the starting quarterback and failed to see the playoffs in both seasons.
Furthermore, his time in white and orange came to a sour close when he was benched by head coach Sean Payton with two games remaining in 2023.
Fields, however, was largely regarded as disposable when the Bears acquired the first pick in next month’s NFL Draft, where they are likely to select a quarterback.
Fields’ return is modest, given that he was drafted 11th overall by the Bears only three years before.
Since then, the athletic Georgia native has thrown 40 touchdowns and 30 interceptions, while also rushing for 14 touchdowns.
The Bears went 10–28 in games in which he started and missed the playoffs in 2023.
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