Pittsburgh Steelers OTAs: Russell Wilson vs. Justin Fields battle for starting QB kicks off

The Pittsburgh Steelers woke up on Tuesday morning with a feeling of excitement.

Sure the season is just under 16 weeks away, but for the first time in 2024, the majority of the roster is practicing together in preparation for the regular season.

And no battle will mean more, or generate more fodder, than the one at starting QB:

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Justin Fields vs. Russell Wilson Part 1:

Coach Tomlin has made it clear since the team signed Russell Wilson that he would be the starter. That was the crux of the Kenny Pickett issue, where he felt like he wasn't going to be given a chance to compete and thus requested a trade.

But for Justin Fields, he will be given that chance to compete, and as soon as this week:

“Pittsburgh Steelers, not really a quarterback battle because Russell Wilson has ‘pole position of the number one,’ spot according to head coach Mike Tomlin going into OTAs,” ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said on SportsCenter . “But Justin Fields, expect him to get a lot of reps. The Steelers, I’m told they love to get their backup quarterbacks reps, sometimes the first team, second team, scout teams, they’re gonna move Fields all over to get him a lot of throws early on.”

Well, there are a few things wrong here in my opinion. For one, if we took every HC and GM at their word, we would have a long trail of empty promises. Secondly, the Steelers can say that Fields is the backup and will get reps accordingly, but if and when the team sees Fields making more high-level throws and looking more athletic, eyebrows will be raised.

You see, typical QB rooms have an obvious pecking order. The starter is never looking over his shoulder. But in Pittsburgh, that's the exact opposite. Wilson should have confidence and belief that he will start the season as QB #1.

But he would be naive to think that he will finish it that way no matter what. If we get to July and Justin Fields is marching the offense up and down the field and making more throws and splash plays in camp, Pittsburgh won't have any choice but to go back on their word.

So while it may not be framed as a QB battle in Pittsburgh, it is, and that battle starts Tuesday on the Southside.

Related: Steelers’ former Super Bowl champion suggests mid-season collapse in 2024