All eyes are going to be on Russell Wilson this season. The former Seattle veteran had quite an offseason this year, being released from Denver after a dismal couple of seasons to joining the Steelers as their starter quarterback. However, the work is far from over, as he would be competing with backup Justin Fields to retain his “pole position.”

The 2024 season is being projected as a comeback year for Wilson; however, not everyone agrees with that notion. While workout videos of the quarterback have been awing fans and analysts alike, a sports journalist feels that the former Super Bowl champion is past his prime.

Is Russell Wilson “washed” out?

The Pittsburgh Steelers have refreshed their QB room this offseason, trading Kenny Picket to the Eagles and bringing in Wilson with the minimum veteran salary deal. Fields joined as a backup after a tough season with the Chicago Bulls. While the former Denver QB is slated to be the starter, Fields has made it clear that he’s not going to back off from competing. YahooSports host Jason Fitz is of the opinion that we might get to see the No.2 on the field sooner than expected.

“I think Russell Wilson is completely washed, I don’t think Russ is going to be good,” said Fitz on the ZeroBlitz podcast. Discussing the veteran’s shift of mentorship, Fitz posed a question. He said that if Sean Payton, who is considered to bring out the best in QBs, couldn’t get Wilson to perform, how would it look now under the Steelers’ offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith?  “He’s [Arthur Smith] a very good offensive coordinator,” said the host. “But what do those chops look like? What does that development look like? How does that play in for Russ?”

Fitz answered the question himself, and it involved a prediction about a change of starters. While it has been confirmed multiple times that Wilson was signed in a “pole position,” there is still competition in the QB room. Fields is entering his fourth season and had made it crystal clear previously that he intends to compete. However, as per recent reports, there might be more in store for the former Bears rookie than just the QB position.

What plans do the Steelers have for Justin Fields?

The answer for Fitz is Justin Fields, and he strongly feels that the former Bears player could win the starting job mid-season. “I think Justin Fields comes out, plays pretty effortlessly  -in this preseason and wins the job. I would be stunned if Russ is playing throughout the course of this season.” Though the quarterback had an average last season with 2,562 passing yards, 20 total touchdowns, and nine interceptions, he’s presently in better condition than Wilson. The sports host isn’t the only one expecting to see more of Field this upcoming season, as an NFL Insider hinted at a special “package” that the Steelers might have in store for their QB No.2.

On the Scoop City podcast, Dianna Russini threw some light on Pittsburgh’s quarterback room. She clarified that while Wilson is going to be the starter, it will be a “competitive training camp.” Furthermore, she revealed that Smith had devised a plan to utilize Fields in a different way. While the plan hasn’t been disclosed yet, many are speculating a Slash-like position for him. We can expect to see the quarterback in a mix of positions, like wide receiver and tight end, entering the field in critical games.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are undoubtedly going to have an interesting season in 2024. With veteran Russell Wilson competing with Justin Fields, who do you think is going to get more playing time?