When the Steelers overhauled their quarterback room, it was reported that Russell Wilson can be the clear starter over Justin Fields, each of whom Pittsburgh acquired in March.
It seems that it is not that lower and dried.
Head coach Mike Tomlin spoke with reporters on Sunday for the primary time for the reason that Steelers acquired the 2 quarterbacks and traded former starter Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles. Per Tomlin, Wilson has “pole place” to begin the offseason. And Fields may have an “alternative to compete.”
“Relaxation assured, when it’s time to compete, Justin will probably be given a chance to compete, and we’ll permit these guys to kind themselves out,” Tomlin stated, per Steelers Now’s Nick Farabaugh. “However I believed it was acceptable to explain it in a approach for after we get began.
“Russell’s in pole place, and I feel his physique of labor justifies that. And simply from my conversations with Justin, he’s enthusiastic about working alongside Russell and studying a few of these veteran methods of the commerce from behind a man who has been round for over a decade.”
That is removed from the undisputed starter standing that was being portrayed round Wilson following Pittsburgh’s offseason strikes. And it makes much more sense.
Tomlin relishes competitors
Tomlin stated from the beginning of Pittsburgh’s offseason that he envisioned a quarterback competitors within the fall.
“I feel competitors is nice,” Tomlin stated in January. “I feel it’s good for all of us. I feel it brings out one of the best in all of us.”
That was in reference to Pickett and lengthy earlier than the Steelers introduced on Wilson and Fields. However there’s nothing about Pittsburgh’s offseason that implies that Tomlin would transfer away from his philosophy of fostering competitors.
Why would Steelers hand Wilson the job?
The Steelers did not exit and purchase Patrick Mahomes. They signed Wilson after the Broncos determined to pay him $39 million to not play soccer in Denver subsequent season. Tomlin cited Wilson’s “physique of labor” in giving Wilson the leg up in competitors. It has been a very long time since that physique of labor was related on an actual dwell soccer area.
Wilson was glorious at his peak, a dynamic passer and playmaker who made 9 Professional Bowls and received a Tremendous Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks. However he was dangerous in two seasons in Denver. In his first, the Broncos had been on tempo for a traditionally low-scoring offense late into the season. There is a cause Broncos head coach Sean Payton wished him gone.
For Pittsburgh, his arrival quantities to a low-risk proposition on an inexpensive contract. However to anticipate him to be the undisputed starter over a 25-year-old Fields who nonetheless has upside did not make any sense. Because it seems, Fields may have an opportunity to win the job. Even when Wilson has a leg up on the competitors.
And if he can study from a veteran within the course of, even higher.
“Russell is a veteran, man,” Tomlin stated. “He’s received a confirmed means of readiness. He’s been on this league a very long time, and he’s able to rallying troops, receivers, tight ends and operating backs. He’s simply received loads of expertise when it comes to what it takes over a 12-month calendar.
“I simply suppose that’s one thing {that a} youthful man like Justin can study from.”
That is quite a bit from Tomlin about Wilson’s course of — and nothing about his skills as a soccer participant in 2024. This stays one of many extra intriguing tales of the NFL offseason.