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Russell Wilson Takes Pride in Mentoring Justin Fields
UNITY TWP., Pa. — Even though they’re competing for the starting quarterback spot, Russell Wilson is doing everything he can to guide Justin Fields, who’s been filling in for Wilson over the last week. Wilson suffered a calf strain during the team’s conditioning test last week, when he was pushing a sled.
“Yeah, I think more than anything else, we’ve known each other for some years now, and I’ve always tried to be a mentor in some way to him,” Wilson said after Tuesday’s practice. “We’ve always texted, called, whatever it may be in the past, and same thing now. I believe that when you give as much knowledge that I have, or experienced or gone through, it comes back in return for you in the long run. We’re a team and we’re always trying to get better together. Every rep that he’s taking, I’m learning, and vice versa. Every rep that I’m taking, he’s learning. And all the other quarterbacks, as well. Even when we’re not in there, and we’re just processing from the drill work, we’re always talking and communicating. So, I think that’s a critical part to being successful as a team.”
Wilson added that Fields has “done a great job” with the first-team during his absence.
“He’s working his butt off every day, and we’re getting better as a team,” Wilson said.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin commended Wilson for his leadership following Wednesday’s practice.
“I don’t know that I am surprised by anything. This guy has been in this league a long time and his reputation proceeds him in terms of his relationship with the game, his leadership skills, his willingness to work. All of those things have been confirmed to me,” Tomlin said of Wilson. “It’s a pleasure to work with him day-to-day. He’s a football lover and a football junkie. It’s an asset to him and us. Just his willingness to work and his communication skills whether it’s player to player, player to coach, it’s really good.”
Fields said at OTAs that it’s been a great experience for him to learn from a nine-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion.
“It’s been great just learning from him every day,” he said. “Just how detailed he is with everything. Just how he works. Everything he does. The way he acts around his teammates. He’s been great. A great teammate to me. A great mentor to me so it is awesome to have a guy like Russell in the room. You get to learn from him and kind of pick his brain on some stuff.”
Despite narratives out of Denver, Russell Wilson has been nothing but a leader since arriving in Pittsburgh.
Alan Saunders contributed reporting from Unity Twp.
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