“If you’re Russell Wilson, if you’re Hall of Famer, if you’re one of the better quarterbacks of this generation, I need you to be able to win the game,” T.J. Houshmandzadeh’s words were like a perfect spiral that could cut through the air. The ex-Seahawks wide receiver didn’t hold back and continued, “I need you to be able to last two minutes of the game we’re down by five, you drive us down the field and get us a touchdown.” It’s a hot take on Wilson’s pre-season performances that have been damning and clearly show how much he has fallen as a once elite quarterback.

From being Seattle’s savior to becoming Pittsburgh’s question mark feels like a movie tragedy. This has put him in an uncertain position where he will be struggling for his starting job and how he will be remembered as well since the nine-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl-winner QB is now fighting for his very NFL career. On SPEAK today Houshmandzadeh did not mince words about Wilson’s chances, “He hasn’t shown enough to be the starter week one because had he, Mike Tomlin would have named him the starter.”

The quarterback’s fall from grace was as sudden as it was dramatic. After his forced departure from Seattle, Wilson’s time in Denver proved disastrous. He got off to a terrible start with the Broncos, finishing the season with just four wins and eleven losses under his belt, while also having his worst-ever passer rating of only 84.4 in the process. Even a slight increase by him last year (3070 yards, 26 TDs, 8 INTs) did not save him from being benched after week 16′s loss to the New England Patriots. This is not the same quarterback who used to make Seahawks fans shout “Let Russ cook!”

Now in Pittsburgh, Wilson might face the biggest challenge for his career so far. As Mark Schlereth, a Denver Broncos legend, bluntly put it on The Stinkin Truth podcast last week, “We are watching a future Hall of Famer play his way out of Hall of Fame.” Can the 35-year-old show that he still has what it takes to be called Mr. Unlimited or will he simply become a cautionary tale in this league?

To worsen the situation, Wilson is seemingly too proud. In his decision to leave Seattle, Wilson wanted to copy Tom Brady’s success in Tampa Bay.“At the end of the day, it’s your legacy, your team’s legacy,” Wilson once said on the Dan Patrick Show. “One of the reasons why Tom went to Tampa was because he felt like he could trust those guys and [Bucs head coach] Bruce [Arians] would give him an opportunity.”  This mistake is now haunting him as he struggles for significance in Pittsburgh.

Justin Fields is the underdog with Championship dreams

While Wilson ponders what he will be remembered for, Justin Fields begins writing a compelling story of his own. As fast as he runs out of the pocket, the ex-quarterback of the Chicago Bears has been turning heads. “I think the time that I did have with the [first team] practicing in training camp, I think that went well,” Fields told reporters and it was clear that he had a lot of confidence.

The head coach Mike Tomlin famous for his no-nonsense attitude has taken note of Field’s potential. “I want to see [Fields] show some of the things that we’ve seen out here in the practice setting,” Tomlin said to pressors on Aug 22. “Much like I’ve talked about [with] the offensive unit, we’ve had some really good days and [have] shown a really high floor with the potential for splash plays.”

Fields had decent preseason numbers completing 16-of-23 passes for 159 yards with 11 carries resulting in an additional 44 yards. It is a small sample size but one that leaves Steelers fans feeling excited at this point. With the final preseason matchup against the Detroit Lions on deck, Fields gets one last shot at showing that he is more than just a backup option.

More than just a depth chart decision, the quarterback battle in Pittsburgh is a referendum on the future of the Steelers offense. Should they take his experience and bet on Wilson’s career resurgence or should they welcome Fields’ youthfulness and promise? And as this 2024 season approaches, Steelers Nation waits with bated breath to see if it will be “Let Russ Cook: The Sequel” or if it’s going to be “Fields of Dreams”-in the steel city.

As Houshmandzadeh wisely noted, “I believe in Mike Tomlin’s heart of hearts he probably feels he can do more with Justin Fields, but he’s uncertain and he’s holding on to the 2018 Russell Wilson.” Time is running out for Russell Wilson who cannot afford even one more snap which can be the difference between a tragedy and a Hall Of Fame nod.