Veteran quarterback Russell Wilson will start for the Pittsburgh Steelers when they open the season Sept. 8 on the road against the Atlanta Falcons, coach Mike Tomlin announced Wednesday.
Wilson, who led the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl title a decade ago, had been locked in a battle with fourth-year QB Justin Fields. While Tomlin had said for months that Wilson was the leader for the job, a calf injury Wilson sustained early in training camp gave coaches a longer look at Fields with the first team.
“I met with both quarterbacks here just a few minutes ago after practice and I informed them that Russ is QB 1 going into Week 1,” Tomlin said Wednesday. “It was a difficult decision but not difficult in a negative way. To be quite honest with you, it was difficult in a positive way. This decision was difficult because of what they’re capable of doing. The decision was difficult because of how they conducted themselves as opposed to the things that they fall short in in terms of capabilities or negative conduct.”
Veteran Kyle Allen also is on the roster and third on the depth chart.
The Steelers, seeking an upgrade from last season’s starter, Kenny Pickett, acquired both Wilson and Fields in March. Pickett was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Wilson, 35, was named to the Pro Bowl in nine of his 10 seasons (2012-21) with the Seahawks. Traded to the Denver Broncos before the 2022 season in a blockbuster deal, Wilson was 11-19 as a starter with Denver and released earlier this year.
In 188 career starts, Wilson has posted a 115-72-1 record. He’s thrown for 43,653 yards and 334 touchdowns to go with 106 interceptions and has engineered 39 game-winning drives.
He has run for 5,307 yards and added 29 touchdowns.
Fields was the No. 11 overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Bears, but Chicago decided to move on from the 25-year-old after three seasons.
Fields, 25, has a 10-28-0 record in 40 games (38 starts) and has through for 6,674 yards with 40 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. He’s added 14 rushing scores.
–Field Level Media
