The Pittsburgh Steelers will have Justin Fields start their season opener against the Atlanta Falcons as the team deactivated Russell Wilson.
Wilson will enter the game as the third emergency quarterback. He was dealing with calf tightness. It was the same calf he had injured earlier in training camp that had caused him to miss some time.
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August 24, 2024; Detroit, Michigan. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields (2) looks at the scoreboard while sitting on the bench during the Steelers' preseason game against the Detroit Lions in the third quarter at Ford Field. (Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports)
Both Fields and Wilson were acquired in the offseason. Wilson appeared to have the upside to become the starter after the Steelers signed him as a free agent. The team also acquired Fields from the Chicago Bears, who were set on selecting Caleb Williams at No. 1 overall in the draft.
“His athleticism is unbelievable,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said via the team's website. “I've seen the highlights and things of that nature, but being an AFC coach, you don't always get a chance to feel it or pay attention to it.”
“Seeing some of the things he's able to do on the football field is really exciting.”
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) prepares to enter the field against the Detroit Lions during the first half of a preseason game at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024. (Junfu Han/USA Today Network)
Fields was the 11th overall pick in the 2021 draft. He racked up 6,674 passing yards, 40 touchdown passes and 30 interceptions in 40 games for the Bears. Chicago became disillusioned with Fields as his inconsistent play proved to be too much to be considered a long-term starter.
Wilson's time also came to an abrupt end with the Denver Broncos. He was removed as the starting quarterback before the end of the season and was released when the team couldn't come to terms with a deal for him.
August 17, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields (2) attempts to throw against the Buffalo Bills during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. (Charles LeClaire-USA Today Sports)
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Pittsburgh made the playoffs last season on the back of its abysmal defense. The team went 10-7 and lost in the AFC Wild Card round.
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