Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson discusses the potential awkward situation developing for the Pittsburgh Steelers with QBs Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Listen to the full conversation on the “Zero Blitz” podcast – and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.
Video transcript
Listen, Pittsburgh, I know now Russell Wilson Justin Fields saying, okay, hey, everything’s happy.
Hey, they’re on the field together, they’re playing, you know, there’s going to be all this talk about what the fields can learn from Russell Wilson, who that veteran is and, you know, since Russ is the starter, he’s the unquestioned starter. that comes from within the organization.
It seems like there are all these efforts now to let go of any idea that this might be weird or problematic as time goes on.
But here’s the thing.
You have two quarterbacks right now, neither of them anchored in any kind of contractual coverage in 2025.
These are two guys who want business, they want, they want money, okay?
They want to know they will have a starting position in 2025 and beyond.
And it’s not just Russ, it’s Justin Fields who’s sitting there and admitted, hey, I’m here to compete.
Like, I’m as much as the organization saying, you know, Russ is the guy, this is the setup.
We, we know how we want it.
I think what will end up happening in Pittsburgh if everything goes the way the organization wants, Russ will be the unquestioned starter, but Fields will get some snaps in the red zone and they will put together some packages to try to take advantage. him and put him on the football field.
But you can’t tell me there won’t be an element of weirdness to this, because Justin Fields absolutely wants to be able to play in a starting-level opportunity in 2025 and beyond, whether it’s with the Steelers or not.
And Russell Wilson is in the same situation where he feels that kid coming and pushing and there might be some kind of issue in the locker room, like, hey, there’s, there’s side choices, is Russ playing well enough to hold down this job?
I really think there is a scenario there in Pittsburgh for possible embarrassment.
Just remember that when we’re in October, November and maybe things aren’t going as well as people.
And one last thing I would add to this: There is also a wide receiver named George Pickens who intends to begin contract extension negotiations next off-season.
What normally happens with any wide receiver?
Let’s just tell the George Pickens story with any wide receiver that might be coming off the season for contract extension negotiations where things aren’t going perfectly at quarterback and they’re not being fed the football.
So now you have a third person who has been injected into the mix, whose career advancement and extension potential after the 2024 season depends on the quarterback.
You can’t tell me Pickens won’t just sit there and walk away.
This guy gives me a chance to get that scholarship this summer.
I will absolutely support this guy.
Now tell me who this guy is.
