The Pittsburgh Steelers' most important piece of their offseason puzzle has revolved around what the team has done to revamp the league's most important position. Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph and Mitchell Trubisky will no longer wear the Black and Gold, while Russell Wilson and Justin Fields (along with Kyle Allen) will help to shape the new era of Steelers football at quarterback. Wilson is expected to get the starting nod as the former Super Bowl champion and veteran, but Fields expressed on Tuesday that he is ready for a competition.
Ashlee Rezin / Chicago Sun Times
Former Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson and Chicago Bears signal-caller Justin Fields meet at midfield following a regular season NFL game in Chicago, IL.
It was very interesting on Tuesday during the first day of Organized Team Activities (OTAs) in Pittsburgh for Fields to specifically mention that he wasn't planning on sitting on the bench all season. He even said that he believes that Wilson knows they are competing and the best man will end up winning out in the end. It seems as if the veteran in Wilson didn't get the memo.
The official Steelers Live X account released the full press conferences that the two quarterbacks had with the media. When asked about a competition going on, Wilson completely evaded the question and focused on external factors, rather than internal.
"Yeah, I think every day you look at it as to be the best version of you. I think that's always the competition internally and then you're always competing against the other, ya know, 31 teams. I think you step on the team with that mentality and nothing should ever change. I think that's the way I've always looked at it and that's the part I embrace."
The answers from the two signal-callers speak volumes about where each individual believes he stands when it comes to the offense. Fields is a young and hungry player ready to prove everyone wrong, while Wilson is at the latter half of his career and didn't want to discuss any kind of competition inside of the Steelers' offensive room. There is plenty of intrigue surrounding the team's quarterback situation, given the fact that none of them were with Pittsburgh in 2023.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Former Steelers quarterbacks Mason Rudolph (2), Kenny Pickett (8) and Mitch Trubisky (10) stand on the field at St. Vincent College during 2022 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
After just one day of OTAs, speculation will likely begin to swirl about the Steelers' quarterback situation. It makes way too much sense for the veteran to start, but what if he struggles? Wilson's comments could simply be him indirectly expressing his confidence, but Fields seems to believe that he is in the running to be the starting signal-caller once Week 1 rolls round. It will be interesting to see how the two react to media interviews in the coming weeks.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin yells in the direction of one of his players during warmups prior to a 2022 preseason game at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA.
Steelers' Future Tentative When It Comes To Quarterback Position
Wilson had a rough go of things during his two seasons with the Denver Broncos, but there is plenty of excitement in the Steel City that he could still have plenty of strong play left in him. On the other side of things, his expected backup in Fields is considered young with plenty of dynamic abilities. Neither may be the answer through the next few seasons, but it sure is promising to have new faces in the room. Get your popcorn ready, Steeler Nation.
Do you think that Wilson and Fields have different expectations when it comes to a supposed quarterback competition? Let us know in the comments below!
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