It goes without saying that the Pittsburgh Steelers have been quite busy this offseason.
While the majority of their fan base was thrilled, it still had to sting just a little to pull the band-aid on Ben Roethlisberger 2.0 Kenny Pickett.
Pickett is now across the state with the Philadelphia Eagles. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has brought aboard not one, but two intriguing QB’s: Russell Wilson and Justin Fields…
Appearing on Infinity Sports Radio, Pittsburgh legend and NFL Hall of Famer, Jerome Bettis, made a statement that the vast majority of Steelers fans wholeheartedly agree with – Russell Wilson is THE guy.
While acknowledging Fields’ potential, Bettis emphasized Wilson’s current position as the frontrunner in the competition for the starting quarterback job.
“The Bus” stated that he would be surprised if Fields ends up replacing Wilson as the starter.
“I would be surprised … I think (Wilson’s) definitely the polished guy,” Bettis said.
“You saw what he was doing last year in Denver … He didn’t leave Denver because of his play. I can promise you that. So, I believe he’ll be the starter Week One.
“Now the question is Justin Fields,” Bettis continued. “He’s that Joker, because you don’t know what you’re gonna get.
“You love his skill set, what he’s capable of. Can he put it all together? And will he develop to the next step? And if he does that, he can be a 10-year solution at quarterback as well,” he confidently added.
Wilson is one of the most interesting players in the league.
While some fans have already written him off, the fact is Wilson is not THAT far removed from his days of being a perennial MVP candidate.
Now, what exactly happened in Denver is anyone’s guess … That was one of the greatest trainwrecks of all-time.
Bettis hinted that it would be foolish to bet against Wilson, especially now that he has a fresh start in such a stable organization.
It goes without saying that Wilson is far more accomplished than the young Fields.
In his three years with the Chicago Bears, Fields struggled mightily with his accuracy and slow processing of defenses.
Opinions vary greatly on him. Some feel he has endless potential and could possibly develop into an elite NFL quarterback. While others think he’s simply not starter quality.
Only time will tell…
As for Bettis, he fully expects Wilson to be taking the snaps under center when the Steelers open up the season against Kirk Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons.
(Hey, if anybody knows the Falcons it’s new Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Artie Smith … That could be a significant advantage for Wilson and the Steelers.)
While head coach Mike Tomlin’s seat is far from scorching hot, there was some drama surrounding him for the first time in a long-time last season.
In other words, 2024 is shaping up to be a very important season not just for Wilson and Fields, but Tomlin as well.
What are your thoughts on Bettis’ comments?
Do you agree that it would be shocking if Wilson wasn’t the starter come opening day?
Or do you believe that Fields has a legitimate chance to win the starting job?
In the big picture, what are your realistic expectations for the Steelers this coming season???