Does a Russell Wilson and Justin Fields Competition Exist?

The first topic in any national spotlight on the Pittsburgh Steelers is teh question on everyone’s minds — who is actually going to start at quarterback? Justin Fields and Russell Wilson are embroiled in a quarterback competition, but what if there is no competition at all, and all of that is hogwash?

According to Mark Kaboly, there is simply no competition. When Mike Tomlin made the ‘pole position’ comments in March to signal that Wilson would start the offseason as the first-string quarterback, it was declaring him the starter. He went as far as to say Fields has ‘zero chance’ of starting Week 1 through winning the competition.

“I just don’t think there’s enough time for that,” Kaboly said on 93.7 the Fan. ““I just don’t think there’s enough time for that. You bring a guy in, you teach him an offense. You are trying to get Russell Wilson ready. I’m not worried about Justin Fields coming in here and trying to battle this guy. I don’t think there’s enough time for him to show what he can do to beat him out…. Zero chance (Fields wins the competition).”

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson at the team’s OTAs session on May 28, 2024 – Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

It can not be ruled out that this happens. Wilson feels he is in the pole position to win this job. So far, the actual competition is more talk. Fields did say he was going into the year preparing to start every game, and he certainly does not see himself on the bench all season. Buried in Tomlin’s comments in March is that Fields would likely have a chance to win the job.

“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.

Take that for how it is. The Steelers brass said many things this offseason that were false in press conferences. This could be another one of them, but with Wilson and Fields both having that background as guys who have held the mantle of a franchise, this is likely a competition that will carry throughout training camp and the preseason.