The news couldn’t have come at a better time for Pittsburgh as the season kickoff approaches. But no time to breathe Steelers Nation as one decision has opened the door for many speculations. Head coach Mike Tomlin officially named Russell Wilson as the starting QB over Justin Fields, ending the preseason saga that had fans on edge. But with this decision, the question remains: Is Russell the right fit for the job, or should it have been Justin? While Stephen A. Smith is backing Tomlin’s choice, he didn’t count Justin out, calling him the future of Steel City.

Yes! We know what you are thinking. After berating Wilson, and telling him that he “stunk in the last season” Stephen is all in, backing Team Russ for QB1 starting from Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons. “We know that Justin Fields is the future of Pittsburgh Steelers, and it doesn’t have to be at this moment,” Stephen said on August 29th’s First Take, adding, “If I throw Justin Fields in there [Week 1] and he wets the bed, I put him behind the eight ball. Russell Wilson’s got to come in and save the day.” The analyst noted that while this sounds great, it doesn’t really work that way.

Mike knows that if Justin was to be a starter, only to perform poorly in the first game, that would mean a loss of confidence. He said that Fields’ unique talent, especially pace, and maneuvers around defensive huddles, is something that the Steelers “are open to weaponizing.” And at the age he is, 25, he has room to grow. Hence the decision to hand the starter role to the veteran Russell Wilson sounds good for everyone at this point. The analyst said, “In this particular instance, it gives Justin Fields some time to grow, to elevate, to acclimate to a new system.”

However, while he did not call it a wrong decision to hand Russ the charge, he was concerned for the fans. Stephen said that if he was part of the Steelers Nation, he would not be completely happy. Why? Well, according to him, it’s the veteran winning the role against the youngster. “Either way, you slice it. As a Steelers fan, it doesn’t make me feel that good. Because no one definitively stood out above the crowd.”

Well, do you blame him for thinking that way? He might be on to something. Why? Because the lackluster preseason from the two QBs has not gone unnoticed.

Russell Wilson and Justin Fields must work on worrying trends from 2023

Sure, Justin Fields has taken 56 preseason snaps compared to Russell Wilson’s 25. But neither has shown the quality expected from a solid QB1. You might ask, “But isn’t the preseason just a warm-up?” True, but now that it’s over, there’s no more time to blame bad plays on a rough field or old cleats. As Stephen A. also pointed out. Mike Tomlin had to have a starting signal-caller, that’s a given. So he chose to lean on experience with Wilson, hoping the veteran would step up.

But it’s been more hope than reality. If we crunch the numbers, Fields completed 19 of 27 passes for 199 yards with one scoring drive, while Wilson went 10 of 12 for just 73 yards and a scoring drive. Fields averaged 8.3 air yards per attempt, compared to Wilson’s 5.7. Those numbers scream caution, don’t they?

Meanwhile, other QBs like Bo Nix—dubbed “Best Rookie of the Preseason” by Bleacher Report—and Caleb Williams have stolen the preseason fame. Unless Fields and Wilson are planning a silent sweep of the league, their preseason performances haven’t shown much promise. Turnovers have been their kryptonite, unlike Nix, who had zero turnovers in the preseason. And this isn’t just a preseason issue. Wilson ended last season with 26 touchdowns but got sacked 45 times, while Fields threw 16 touchdowns and was sacked 44 times. These trends are worrying, and they need attention fast.

So, for now, Russell Wilson has the spotlight squared on him. Entering his 13th season, he must suit up and be a mentor to Justin Fields. And as for the youngster, he has time to grow away from the spotlight. This is a make-or-break situation for Pittsburgh. With the clock ticking, where do you think this QB situation would land the Steelers? Let us know!