All eyes dropped last season when they saw Russell Wilson falling short in the start with 0–2 with the Denver Broncos. This even prompted Fox Sports personality, Colin Cowherd to publicly call him “washed up,” and that “Wilson is 34 and he looks like he’s 39.” However, this year, when the QB, now 35, has joined a different team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, many are hoping to see the older version of Wilson back. So, will he be able to perform as per expectations? NFL analyst Chris Broussard listed him as number 1 in the quarterbacks’ list who will be under scrutiny this year.

In a recent episode of First Things First on August 29, 2024, hosts Nick Wright, Kevin Wildes, Greg Jennings, and Chris Broussard, all talked about the upcoming NFL season. While listing the players to be watched for this season, Broussard put Russell Wilson on top, giving him a subtle warning regarding his career. He said, “I wish Russ, that I could say the jury is still out on whether or not you are washed. Now I don’t believe you are washed up, it’s still out for me, the jury, but for everybody else, it seems like they’ve settled on it.”

Broussard further continued, “This is a chance for you to write your ship and turn your career around again…..you have the tools there to kind of resurrect your career if you don’t do it then you might never get a chance to really start regularly again.” The analyst also pointed out that this time, Wilson has everything he needs to revive his career–a strong defense, a great coach Mike Tomlin, talented receivers like George Pickens, and two solid running backs in Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren.

Not only that! Broussard also highlighted that Pittsburgh also typically has a reliable run game, and hence, he emphasized that if Wilson doesn’t make the most of this opportunity, it could be his last chance to be a regular starting quarterback. As given Wilson’s big name, finding a backup role might not be easy either. Therefore, in short, the sports commentator still believes in Wilson. But he also believes that this season is critical for him to prove he still has what it takes.

Nevertheless, it seems Wilson is ready to take this up, as he believes he has regained his previous form!

Is Russell Wilson really back in his Seattle form?

“For me, it’s about winning — over the next two years, I want to win two [Super Bowls], I want to feel the chill of that trophy again.” Russell Wilson said this in February, before joining the Pittsburgh Steelers this March. Additionally, in June, he shared two of his game-play pictures, writing, “35 feeling like 25!” on social media. With this, Wilson probably hinted that he is back in his Seattle form, as he won the 2014 Super Bowl with the Seahawks when he was 25 years, 2 months, and 4 days old. So, now with the Steelers, Wilson wants to hold the Lombardi trophy once again after 10 years. But the question is – will he be able to? The last pregame final of the Steel City showed that before pulling him out along with George Pickens, Wilson is good, as he “completed both of his passes and that was enough for Tomlin to go forward with his plan to make Wilson his starter.” But here’s another theory!

Although it seems Wilson has regained his form and is coming up confidently in the 2024 season, “the fact that Justin Fields was able to make a competition of it illustrates just how far Wilson has tumbled from his Super Bowl winning form.” According to sports analyst Doug Gottlieb, who also gave a similar opinion like Chris Broussard, “If he’s [Wilson] not the starter at the end of the season due to anything other than injury, you won’t see Russell Wilson as a starter, game 1, ever again. That’s literally what he’s up against. This is either the rebirth of his career or the end of his career, and it feels more like an end than the rebirth.”

So, does that mean, Wilson still lacks his previous Seahawks’ form, where he “threw for over 200 yards, including two touchdowns, in a dominating 43-8 performance” in Super Bowl XLVIII? The 2024 will definitely be a pressure year for Mr. Unlimited!