“Justin [Fields] Is a Franchise Quarterback”: Russell Wilson Endorses His Younger Competition’s Skills While Celebrating Steelers’ ‘Two Dynamic’ QBs

Russell Wilson might be the starter for now, but he isn’t close to the idea of having Justin Fields step into the mix at times, either! After having a dismal two seasons in the Denver Broncos, the Super Bowl Champion signed a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers on the minimum veteran’s salary.

Next in came the former Bears quarterback as Wilson’s backup. Whereas at first it was assumed that Fields would sit behind the veteran, coach Mike Tomlin recently revealed that they might find a different role for the young quarterback. And Wilson seems to be fully in support of the idea.

Russell Wilson thinks Fields could “strike fear” in opponent defenses

Fields was tossed the idea of playing in different roles like the Saints’ Tayson Hill or the former Steelers QB, Kordell Stewart, to which the 25-year-old had a positive response. Wilson had a similar reception, praising the talent his backup QB holds. “Justin is obviously one of the most talented guys in the NFL,” the veteran said via TribLive. “You know all the things he can do. The player, the quarterback that he is. He’s dynamic. It’s all about us winning. That’s the focus.”

Wilson even went on to work out the pros and cons of the move, sharing how having Fields come in for some plays “would strike fear in some defenses, that’s for sure.” However, the former Seahawks star doesn’t want it to become a gimmick as “Justin is a franchise quarterback.” Wilson continued, “He’s a guy that can do a lot of amazing things. So, we have two dynamic guys that can do a lot of special things.” Now that the possibility has been put on the table, what are the non-quarterback roles that Fields could take up in the upcoming season?

Justin Fields could be the next ‘Slash’?

Kordell Stewart was drafted in 1995 as the backup to Neil O’Donnell. He just had one aim in mind: to play football. Soon, he was playing as the team’s quarterback, running back, and receiver, whichever was required, and got the nickname ‘Slash.’ Taysom Hill is another player who was signed as a quarterback but has played in seven different positions since; and was coined the name ‘The Human Swiss Army Knife’ for his versatility.

This is one trajectory that Fields can be expected to follow. “When my name is called, I’ll be ready,” is what Fields had to say about the idea during a conversation with TribLive on Tuesday. The quarterback further confirmed that he would be up for contributing “in whatever capacity.” This opens up a horde of opportunities for the former 11th pick, and if everything goes well, we might even expect to see him as the running back or the wide receiver alongside Wilson.

While no Slash-esque role has been confirmed so far, it would be quite interesting to see Justin Fields try his hand at multiple positions. Not only will he get a chance to be on the field, but he can also prove to be the next ‘Slash’ for the franchise!