Justin Fields Rumors: Steelers Roster 'Likes and Respects' QB After Wilson Battle

The Pittsburgh Steelers will open the season with Russell Wilson serving as the starting quarterback and Justin Fields backing him up, but it wouldn't be shocking if Wilson was given a short hook should he struggle.

It also probably would play just fine in the locker room if the Steelers made the in-season decision to go with Fields.

According to Albert Breer of SI.com, "In this scenario, they'll get a look at what a work-in-progress offense looks like with Wilson. If it doesn't work? Well, this is a roster that's been through change at quarterback in consecutive seasons already and a roster, I'm told, that really likes and respects Fields."

It isn't just Fields' teammates who have been pleased with how he's handled the quarterback competition with Wilson and approached this summer.

As Breer noted, "Fields took some fundamental changes that the offensive coaches gave him (one being a return to the type of footwork he'd used at Ohio State), and really worked on them over the past few weeks of camp. It was enough to have some folks internally push for Fields to start."

The two quarterbacks offer the Steelers vastly different options.

Wilson, 35, is far more experienced and polished as a pocket passer in particular, with a title and nine Pro Bowls to his name. The question is whether he can still function at a high level—his performance dipped severely in Denver the past two seasons compared to what he offered throughout his career in Seattle.

Wins may not be a quarterback stat according to a number of NFL pundits, but its hard to ignore that Wilson went from having a winning record as a starter in each of his first nine seasons to a losing record in the past three.

On the flip side, Fields offers massive, potentially untapped potential, given his explosive running ability once he breaks the pocket. The question remains whether he can process at a high level as a passer. He often holds onto the ball for too long, opening himself up to sacks and big hits.

The Steelers, then, have two cracks at the quarterback position this season. The ideal scenario would be Wilson rediscovering his Seattle form and solidifying the position, with the next-best option being Fields stepping in for a struggling Wilson and proving he has the chops to be the franchise option going forward.

There is, of course, the doomsday third scenario—both players struggle, leaving the Steelers back at square one next offseason.

The team did well to pivot heading into the 2024 campaign, giving themselves options after the horrid quarterback play from a year ago. But if neither Wilson or Fields seizes the position, it might be time for the team to get aggressive near the top of the draft to finally find the true franchise option they've been missing since Ben Roethlisberger retired.