Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that there weren't any setbacks with quarterback Russell Wilson's calf injury, and he just wanted "to keep a minor thing from becoming major." Wilson was held out of training camp practice for a second straight day due to a minor calf injury, but there's no timetable for the 35-year-old veteran to return to the field. It's an injury that shouldn't affect Wilson's readiness for the start of his first year in Pittsburgh, but at the same time, he's missing valuable reps to gain chemistry with his receivers while learning a new offense. In the meantime, former Chicago Bears first-round QB Justin Fields is running the first-team offense. Wilson looked like shell of his former self in Denver the last two years and doesn't have enough receiving weapons around him in the Steel City to make him anything more than a low-upside QB2 in fantasy.
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that quarterback Russell Wilson (calf) "woke up with a tight calf" on Thursday and was held out of training camp practice. Tomlin is calling Wilson day-to-day. With Wilson taking the day off, backup Justin Fields got first-team repetitions. The 35-year-old Wilson probably won't miss much time and is still fully expected to open the 2024 regular season as Pittsburgh's QB1 after two disappointing seasons with the Denver Broncos. At this point in his career, Wilson's leadership abilities are probably his greatest asset on the football field. In what is expected to be more of a run-first Steelers offense, Wilson will be more of a game manager in his first year in the Steel City and won't have a ton of fantasy upside as a low-end QB2 in fantasy with receiver George Pickens as his No. 1 wideout.
Unless something unforeseen happens, quarterback Russell Wilson will be the Pittsburgh Steelers' starting QB in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons this fall. It's his job to lose in training camp and the preseason. "I'm really pleased with what I heard coming (out) of there with Russ," NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah said on the Rich Eisen Show. "I know there's been a lot of talk with him and Justin Fields. It's Russell Wilson's gig. Everything I've been told, they've been impressed with how he's thrown. Throwing with anticipation." The Athletic's Mark Kaboly also listed Fields as a "loser" in OTAs and minicamp because he feels Wilson has a chokehold on the starting gig right now. It doesn't really change anything from when head coach Mike Tomlin said Wilson would be in pole position as the starter earlier this offseason. Wilson is also embracing a leadership role and has embraced the city of Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson got off to a good start during organized team activities this offseason, and his leadership was more than noticeable. Wilson also stood out with his arm talent, though, and he did nothing through 12 practices to even slightly indicate that he could lose the QB competition to Justin Fields. Wilson's work ethic, experience, arm talent and the fact that he basically took all the first-team snaps strongly suggest that nothing he can do between July 24 and the Sept. 8 regular-season opener would prevent him from starting to open the year. The 35-year-old veteran is going to need to perform all year to hold off Fields, however, and the lack of experience in the receiving corps is cause for concern from a fantasy standpoint. Wilson bounced back in 2023 in Denver after a bad first year with the Broncos, but he's merely a QB2 in fantasy in 2024 with his new team.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson has looked on point during organized team activities this week with his new team, and the 35-year-old still appears to have plenty of arm strength. Wilson's accuracy was spot on this week, whether in warmups, drills or competition periods, including a 70-yard pass in stride to receiver Quez Watkins on Thursday. His ability to sell play-action fakes was also noticeably better than the other QBs this week. Wilson is in pole position to open the 2024 season as Pittsburgh's starter under center for Week 1, but Justin Fields, a former first-rounder, is competing to make starts for the Steelers at some point in 2024 as well in what is a contract year for him. Fields' presence and dual-threat abilities will be a threat to Wilson's value as a QB2 in fantasy in his first year in the Steel City.
Justin Fields Says He's "Definitely Competing" With Russell Wilson
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields said he's "definitely competing... Russell Wilson knows that. We're competing against each other every day." I definitely don't have the mindset of me just sitting all year." Head coach Mike Tomlin said the veteran Wilson will be in pole position to start under center in Week 1 this fall. However, Fields could certainly find himself starting for the Steelers sooner than later in 2024 if Wilson looks more like he did in a disastrous first year for the Denver Broncos in 2022. Because of the fact that Fields is fully expected to be holding a clipboard on the sidelines to begin the season, it will be hard to recommend him as anything more than a QB2 in superflex fantasy leagues with high-end upside if he ends up winning the starting job eventually. The 25-year-old former Bears QB will be a free agent after the 2024 season after having his fifth-year option declined.
Steelers Say Russell Wilson "Has Pole Position" To Be Starting QB
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin reiterated that quarterback Russell Wilson "has pole position" to be the team's starting QB in 2024. And "when it's time to compete, Justin Fields will be given an opportunity to show his capabilities," Tomlin said. The head coach also said that Fields "oozes talent." The Steelers are going to run with the more experienced 35-year-old Wilson over Fields to open the 2024 campaign after signing Wilson to a one-year deal this offseason. Wilson had a nice bounce-back campaign in 2023 with the Denver Broncos, throwing 26 touchdowns and only eight interceptions in 15 games, but he'll be looking over his shoulder in the Steel City and doesn't exactly have a ton of receiving options to work with in what's expected to be a run-first offense under Arthur Smith. Although Fields is set to start as the backup, he has way more QB1 upside in fantasy.
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin reached out to quarterback Russell Wilson on Saturday night when the team was trading for Justin Fields to let him know that he was still considered the team's starter going into the 2024 season. However, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that while that is Tomlin's plan, Fields is going to compete, regardless. The 35-year-old Wilson will open the regular season as Pittsburgh's starter after a bounce-back campaign in 2023 in his final season with the Denver Broncos, but the aging signal-caller is going to need to play well to hold off Fields, who has more fantasy upside because of his elite rushing abilities. With George Pickens, Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III currently the team's top-three receivers, Wilson will be a high-end QB2, at best, in fantasy for what will likely be a run-first offense.
Steelers Officially Sign Russell Wilson To One-Year Deal
The Pittsburgh Steelers announced on Friday that they have officially signed quarterback Russell Wilson to an undisclosed one-year deal. As was fully expected this offseason, the Denver Broncos released Wilson with a post-June 1 designation, and he quickly latched on with the Steelers for the 2024 season. The 35-year-old will be in a competition with former first-rounder Kenny Pickett in training camp this summer, but the expectation is that Wilson will win the job, especially when considering how bad Pickett was as the starter last year before getting hurt. As of right now, the Steelers' top two wideouts are George Pickens and Calvin Austin III after the team traded Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers, so Wilson doesn't exactly have a standout group of offensive weapons to work with. After a bounce-back year in Denver in 2023, he should be considered a midrange QB2, at best, heading into his first year in the Steel City.
Quarterback Russell Wilson is planning to sign a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Denver Broncos gave Wilson permission to meet with Pittsburgh after informing him last Monday he'd be released when the new league year began on March 13, and the 35-year-old signal-caller will sign a "team-friendly" deal with the Steelers. Although Wilson put up only 204.7 passing yards per game over 15 starts in 2023, his lowest since his rookie year, he compiled a solid 26:8 touchdown-to-interception ratio and is almost certainly an upgrade over Kenny Pickett. The former Pro Bowler is unlikely to deliver gaudy fantasy numbers in 2024, but Wilson provides the black and gold with a veteran presence and functionality under center that they've struggled to find amid the post-Ben Roethlisberger era. New offensive coordinator Arthur Smith will employ a run-heavy approach, but the fantasy value of Pittsburgh's receivers increases with the move.
