David Carr Thinks Justin Fields Will Be Steelers Week 1 Starter

Russell Wilson is the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starting quarterback as of right now, but that could change after training camp and the preseason. Once the pads come on this summer, Justin Fields very well could showcase that he’s a superior talent.

Former NFL quarterback and current NFL Network analyst David Carr believes that will be the case. He thinks Fields will supplant Wilson as the starter and will be under center in Week 1.

“Justin Fields is going to be the starter Week 1,” Carr said on NFL Total Access Tuesday. “I personally believe that. This offense is not something that takes a ton of experience for the quarterback position to run. It’s a nuanced offense, but it’s more RPO-based. It’s more quarterback is going to run the ball. He’s gonna be a threat. Arthur Smith’s a smart guy. He understands 11 on 11. Around the league, when the quarterback runs the ball, there’s an advantage there for the offense. Just look at Lamar Jackson.”

Since 2022, Fields has the most rushing yards by a quarterback with 1,800 yards and 6.3 yards per carry. Both figures are higher than Lamar Jackson’s. He’s certainly a dynamic quarterback.

Carr’s take really isn’t bold, however, as many have stated similar opinions over the last week. Former Pittsburgh Steelers free safety and current ESPN analyst Ryan Clark thinks general manager Omar Khan should be hoping for Fields to overtake Wilson as the starting quarterback because that means the Steelers would have their QB of the future. Wilson is 35 and on the back end of his career, while Fields is 25 and entering his fourth season.

“I want Justin Fields to win because that gives me an opportunity to have a quarterback of the future. Not a bridge guy. Not a guy on the back end of his career, but a young talented quarterback that needs the right pieces around him, who showed signs of being very good late last year,” Clark said on Get Up.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has repeatedly stated that Wilson has “pole position” to be the starting quarterback, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be a competition. Wilson is just the starter as of now because of his pedigree.

“When it’s time to compete, we get into training camp-like settings, and going to preseason stadiums and so-forth, obviously Justin will be given an opportunity to show his capabilities,” Tomlin said at the NFL owner’s meetings in Orlando on Monday.

Jeff Darlington of ESPN was glad to hear Tomlin express that there will be a fair QB competition in training camp and preseason, because he thinks Wilson and Fields are dead even talent-wise.

“I was just glad to hear Mike Tomlin essentially say there will be a competition,” Darlington said on Get Up Tuesday. “Because the Steelers were pretty adamant out of the gates that after they signed Justin Fields, Russell Wilson would be the starter. They definitely walked that back and made very clear this will be a true competition in training camp. And to me, I think it will be a dead even heat based on what I’m hearing about Justin Fields and Russell Wilson. By no means do I believe that this is truly decided.”