Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson is heading into a pivotal season. This very well could be his last chance to resurrect his career and legacy after a tumultuous two-year tenure in Denver.
Bradley Locker of Pro Football Focus tabbed Wilson among 10 players with the most to prove in 2024.
Locker noted that Russell Wilson finished with a passing grade under 73.0 in each of the last three seasons. His time in Denver was especially acrimonious, as he was basically being benched by the end of the 2023 season.
“Despite Wilson’s age, there are a few positive trends. Wilson’s turnover-worthy play rate has never been higher than 3% since 2017, meaning he’s kept the ball out of harm’s way,” Locker wrote. “Likewise, Wilson graded as a very effective runner, with his 80.3 rushing grade good for eighth-best among non-running backs with 25 or more carries last year.
“Wilson signed just a one-year deal, and Justin Fields will assuredly be ready to step in if the former Super Bowl champ falters. So, this year could be his last to prove he deserves a starting gig.”
Which player has the most to prove in 2024? pic.twitter.com/6QUMocHUxi
— PFF (@PFF) June 16, 2024
Wilson, 35, feels like he’s found the fountain of youth in Pittsburgh.
“I feel the fountain of youth,” Wilson said at minicamp on Tuesday. “I feel revived in every way. Mentally, emotionally, spiritually – I feel confident. I think at some point you have to know who you are as a player, as a man, as a competitor. As somebody who’s been fortunate to be able to play this game, I don’t doubt it. I trust it. I felt really good last year playing. I felt really confident in the midst of everything. And so I think right now I have all that confidence times 10.”
Even though it’s a make or break season for Wilson, he isn’t hiding any information from Justin Fields, who he is in competition with for the starting role. He wants to give all the knowledge that he can to Fields.
“I think there’s a great obligation in this game, for me personally, to continue to give as much knowledge as I know. … I’ve always been a huge Justin fan,” Wilson said.
Wilson is in pole position to be the Steelers’ starter, which is something that Mike Tomlin has repeatedly stated this offseason. Fields will be given a fair shot at the job, however.
RELATED: Three Steelers who need bounce back 2024 campaigns.
Nick Farabaugh contributed reporting from Pittsburgh.