The Pittsburgh Steelers must have thought they’d be up against the ropes with Russell Wilson out due to an injury. It couldn’t have been for no reason that coach Mike Tomlin had Wilson pegged as his “pole position” for quarterback. It would probably be fair to say his recent peak was 2020, though he struggled a bit in subsequent years. In 2022, he became the most-sacked quarterback in the league. Of course, 2023 famously saw him benched by the Denver Broncos for fear of invoking an injury clause and having to pay out. He transferred to the Steelers for the lowest amount he could accept; all he wanted was game time.

Sadly, that looks like the one thing he can’t get. In the absence of 35-year-old Russell Wilson due to a calf injury, 25-year-old Justin Fields has stepped in. The results have been undeniable, with three wins on the trot. The Steelers are now one of five teams to have remained undefeated, and Fields is one of the key orchestrators. With an average of 172.67 yards a game this season, 3 touchdowns, and only 1 interception, he’s been very competent. Obviously, this underdog second-string-to-starter story has caught people’s attention. Former Houston Texans DE J.J. Watt described Fields’ attitude as “I’m gonna win us football games and I want this starting spot.” And it’s difficult to argue he doesn’t deserve it. In Watt’s words, “How do you take the spot away from a guy who’s 3-0?”

Watt further went on to point out how Fields’ strengths accentuate gaps in the Steelers’ game. “We all know in Pittsburgh, they’ve had that defense that’s able to keep points off the board. It’s just been an issue of putting points on the board,” he said, describing their conundrum. The depth of their game shines through if you look at their Broncos game. Even though Bo Nix threw for more yards than Fields did, the 2 interceptions and 2 sacks helped turn the game in the Steelers’ favor.

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The appeal is pretty much universal; you’ve got former Steelers like Ryan Clark wondering why Fields hasn’t been named starting quarterback yet. It’s difficult to imagine there being anything Justin Fields could do to make his case that he hasn’t already. He might have flopped with the Chicago Bears in his rookie year, but the Pittsburgh Steelers have genuine talent on their hands; they ignore it at their own risk. So does Russell Wilson stand a shot at reentering the side, as things stand?

Russell Wilson’s place in the Pittsburgh Steelers

It’s obvious why the Steelers prioritized Wilson. He’s a former Super Bowl-winning quarterback, and he brings a decade of experience to the field. But with how long he’s spent on the bench, are the Steelers still going to want him back? The team’s moved on; they seem to work well with Fields, and the youngster’s clearly got it in him to be a shot caller. But more concerning for Wilson is the multi-season angle. As it stands, Russell Wilson is currently the 8th oldest active quarterback in the league. And sure, some outliers play into their 40s, but if you’re investing in your offense in the long term, are you picking Wilson or Fields? Also, those outliers wouldn’t be as injury-prone as Wilson.

Even besides that, there’s the way the city of Pittsburgh itself has started to embrace Fields. Pat McAfee harps on the point when he says “Pittsburgh is in love with this dude. He’s much more like what a Yinzer would appreciate and fall in love with than Russell Wilson.” Though the Steelers aren’t Fields’ first team, he hasn’t really established himself anywhere. The Steelers could build a long-term relationship with Justin Fields, really associate him with the franchise, and make him their own. Especially compared to Wilson, who dedicated a decade of his life to the Seattle Seahawks.

If Wilson still doesn’t get game time this season, doubtless he’ll be itching to go somewhere where he will. It’s up to Mike Tomlin and Wilson’s recovery process what happens next.

If you’re interested in keeping up to date with the latest in the NFL this season, be sure to check out our latest Think Tank Exclusive, featuring Doug Sanders.