The Pittsburgh Steelers have made their decision at quarterback official, with the team naming Russell Wilson its starter for Week 1 of the 2024 season.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin announced the move on Wednesday after practice. This was always the expected decision, as Tomlin reiterated Wilson's status as the front-runner for the job the entire offseason.
With Wilson as the starter, this of course means that Justin Fields will be the backup. Pittsburgh carried three quarterbacks on its initial 53-man roster, with Kyle Allen being the third.
According to ESPN's Brooke Pryor, Tomlin called choosing between Wilson and Fields a "difficult decision," and he also noted that a package of plays for Fields is "certainly on the table" and the team is "open to weaponizing" Fields' skill set.
Coach Tomlin has named Russell Wilson as the starting quarterback. pic.twitter.com/REWKkybpNo
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) August 28, 2024
“Make no mistake, his talent in regards to mobility is something intriguing to us,” Tomlin said of Fields, per Chris Adamski of TribLive.com.
The Steelers are likely to give Wilson plenty of leash as the starter to begin the season, but Fields will be waiting in the wings and figures to get an opportunity if Wilson struggles.