The Pittsburgh Steelers brought in new quarterbacks, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, sparking debates over who would be the better fit to lead the team in 2024. Early on, Wilson was named the starter, but an injury sidelined him ahead of Week 1. Fields stepped up and delivered a solid performance, helping the Steelers get off to a strong start.
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Steelers' Russell Wilson and Justin Fields run on the field before a game.
In Week 2, Wilson was still unavailable for the highly anticipated revenge game against the Denver Broncos. Once again, Fields led the offense effectively. By Week 3, Fields had his best game yet, completing 78.1% of his passes for 245 yards, throwing a touchdown, and rushing for another.
Now, momentum has shifted, with many analysts believing Fields should remain the starter, even if Wilson returns to full health. Former Steelers backup quarterback Charlie Batch discussed the team’s strong start on the Randy Baumann and the DVE Morning Show, expressing concern that the leadership of Fields and Wilson could create a dilemma.
"Yeah [Justin] has stepped up, but there's a dilemma. And that dilemma is all offseason before you got to training camp, this was Russell Wilson's team, so you're building a rapport with him," Batch said. "You get to training camp of course, that shifts, and now Justin's taken over. You start to see some of the leadership traits he has. Yet it's not his team. And it's not his team because this team has voted Russell Wilson captain."
Wilson was named team captain, with many praising his natural leadership abilities. Mike Tomlin has expressed admiration for Wilson’s leadership, but despite Fields' recent success, Tomlin has been reluctant to name a permanent starter, becoming visibly frustrated when asked about it. He doesn’t feel it’s necessary to lock in a starting quarterback at this stage and appears open to giving the team back to Wilson once he's fully healthy.
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Steelers' Mike Tomlin smiles with QB Justin Fields after he won the home run derby.
Batch is concerned that the ongoing uncertainty between Wilson and Fields could create tension within the team. He offered advice to Fields, preparing him for the possibility that the starting role might revert to Wilson when he's ready to return.
"Sometimes you have to learn to lead from behind because you have to take the mannerisms of the starting quarterback, blend it with what you're doing, but then ultimately present it back on a platter and say, 'Thank you, here you go, we're now 3-0' if for whatever reason this team is handed back to Russell Wilson this week."
While Wilson's leadership has received widespread acclaim, Fields has also demonstrated his own strong leadership qualities since arriving in the Steel City. The team has rallied behind Fields, creating a sense of confidence that, regardless of who starts, the Steelers have a capable leader at quarterback.
Steelers' Mike Tomlin Still A Huge Fan Of Russell Wilson
However, Wilson is viewed as the more trusted quarterback within the organization. His impressive resume speaks for itself, and he would have undoubtedly been the starter if he had been healthy. In fact, Tomlin intended to start Wilson for the Week 2 game against the Broncos, but he simply wasn’t healthy enough to play.
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Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin talks to Russell Wilson after a game.
It seems likely that, regardless of Fields’ performance, Wilson will reclaim the starting position once he’s healthy enough to play. The quarterback situation in Pittsburgh is poised to become increasingly intriguing. Batch has expressed concerns about potential clashes between Fields’ and Wilson’s leadership styles.
However, both are professionals who conduct themselves admirably. Fields is committed to respecting whatever decision the Steelers make, but if he continues to win, it will become increasingly difficult for the team to justify starting Wilson over him.
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