“The only damn thing good that you brought to Denver was Ciara.” It’s hard to stop Stephen A. Smith when he pops off like that, but he was “p*ssed” at Russell Wilson as he said on First Take, on 22nd August. But in the past week, following his preseason debut with the Steelers, many have voiced similar frustration toward the fading Russ show. He’s no longer ‘Dangeruss’. And that’s the common notion. Now, another NFL analyst has come forth with the same sentiment, though, a little calmer. But, mind you, he advised that the 35-year-old should hang up his cleats.

“We may have to come to the realization that Russell Wilson is NOT the guy anymore!” This is what ESPN’s Freddie Coleman said on UnSportsManlike, on August 23rd. But he was following up on Stephen A’s remarks on Russ. Now, at this point, we all know, making it dramatic is Stephen’s signature style. However, he turned on the heat when he directly addressed Wilson and told him, “You stunk last season. Denver Broncos is willing to eat nearly $38 million to get rid of you. And you sitting there fighting for a starting job with Justin Fields?” While it might seem a stretch, all he wanted was to remind Russ that, with one Super Bowl ring, he should not be in this pickle.

Ever since preseason camp began, the “Justin Fields or Russell Wilson for QB1” debate has been beaten to death. The Steel City just can’t shake it off. As the preseason games started, the pressure eased, but the matchup against the Bills reignited the Russ criticism. By now, you likely know why. But for those of you who haven’t followed the behind-the-scenes drama in Pittsburgh, well, it wasn’t the night anyone expected from Mr. Clutch. Let’s just say he might have clutched his way out of the starter role.

Wilson went 8-of-10 for 47 yards, but the numbers don’t tell the whole story. Most of those yards came on short third-down throws, and two third-down sacks killed drives, leading to punts. Sound familiar? Wilson’s habit of holding the ball too long haunted him in Denver, and it’s already raising eyebrows in Pittsburgh. Through their first four drives, the Steelers had just 12 net yards and couldn’t get past their own 34-yard line. If this trend continues, the Steelers’ staff won’t be thrilled. Especially not with HC Mike Tomlin. It’s understandable since he has not had a losing season. And if Russ becomes the reason for that to happen, it won’t help his cause in any way whatsoever.

Hence why, what Freddie said makes sense that we, as fans, must see that a team/a system cannot be build around Wilson anymore. It’s a hard pill to swallow, given his two championship appearances. “But, maybe, just maybe, people have to realize that Russell Wilson can no longer be that ‘GUY’ in Pittsburgh.” We shall see what happens next, seems a likely conclusion to this since it is anyone’s guess as of now. But here’s the question: if Wilson does not fix it, would it cause him to lose out on a path to Canton?

Russell Wilson is on a fading road to the Hall of Fame

Freddie Colman said, “It’s going to be an interesting conversation, him being a Hall of Fame quarterback or not. Being involved in the pro football Hall of Fame.” From being destined to be an HOFer, to now being in a conversation over it, has Rusell Wilson run dry his hopes of getting it over the line to Canton? We know you have questions, but this 3x Super Bowl champion, and ex-Denver legend, was blunt in ringing the alarm bell.

Mark Schlereth didn’t pull any punches on his The Stinkin Truth Podcast on August 20th. “Russell’s regressing. We’re watching a future Hall of Famer play his way out of the Hall of Fame,” he said. Ouch, that stings! But hey, that’s his truth. And let’s be real—he’s not the only one saying it. Schlereth echoed what Stephen A. and Freddie have been pointing out: The Steelers’ future is Justin Fields, not Russ. Maybe it’s time for everyone to make peace with that.

After the Steelers’ preseason game against the Bills, Yahoo’s headline summed it up: “Russell Wilson makes his Steelers preseason debut, and the offense goes nowhere with him.” It’s a clear message that the game’s evolving, and a slow horse is as good as no horse. Russ’ numbers were far from pretty, as we mentioned. But what put a wrench in his so-called comeback season was Fields’ performance.

Sure, the 25-year-old took some sacks, but he also flashed his rushing ability, getting the Steelers their first points and only points of the game! A 20-yard scramble, followed by a short completion, set up Chris Boswell’s 43-yard field goal—three consolation points to end with a 9-3 loss. Fields delivered seven straight completions, and the offense showed a better tempo with him on the gridiron. Yahoo’s Frank Schwab summed it up pretty well. “It wasn’t perfect,” he wrote, “but it looked better than when Wilson was in the game.”

So, what does this mean for Russ? It seems his journey from “Mr. Clutch” to a potential Hall of Famer is hitting serious roadblocks. The question remains: Can he adjust and reclaim his legacy, or is it time for Steelers Nation to embrace and accept Fields as their torch-bearer? Let us know what you think! The clock’s ticking.