Steelers Daily News & Links: Art Rooney Sr. Honored by HOF; Wilson/Fields Impact

Pittsburgh Steelers QB Russell Wilson Justin Fields
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields at OTAs on June 4, 2024. -- Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

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? The Pro Football Hall of Fame is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Class of 1964, which included Steelers founder Art Rooney Sr.

? Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports tabbed the Steelers quarterback shakeup of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields as the ninth-most impactful move this offseason.

“Pittsburgh blew up its quarterback room this offseason, trading away Kenny Pickett and bringing aboard Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. The two QBs will duke it out for the starting job later this summer and whoever wins should give the Steelers better quarterback play than they collectively had a season ago. Even amid quarterback turmoil switching between Pickett and Mason Rudolph, the Steelers went 10-7 and were the No. 7 seed. The rest of the roster — particularly on defense — is stout, so if Pittsburgh can get more stable quarterback play from either Wilson or Fields, it wouldn’t be shocking to see them in the playoff picture again in 2024,” Sullivan wrote.

? Dolphins reporter Travis Wingfield, host of the Drive Time podcast, recently stated that if the Dolphins were to face Pittsburgh in the playoffs, it would virtually guarantee them a trip to the conference championship game.

“Sometimes winning playoff games is as favorable as your draw. Granted, good for the Lions, they won their division and that Rams team was no easy out, even though I picked against them all year,” Wingfield said. “That was a good Rams football team they beat, but then they get the Bucs in the Divisional round? Can we have that? Can we get the Steelers, at home, in the Divisional round this year? That would be a guaranteed trip to the conference championship game.”

? Van Jefferson is the leading candidate to serve as the Steelers’ No. 2 wide receiver.

“Jefferson, as things stand now, is the most likely candidate to fill that role. He has the most accomplished pro resume. At 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, Jefferson has extensive pro experience both as an outside receiver and from the slot. That adds some flexibility to [Arthur] Smith’s scheme,” Chris Adamskiof Trib Live wrote.

“The Steelers still are seeking an external upgrade at wide receiver. But, if that never materializes, Jefferson is among a group of fellow 2024 veteran acquisitions Scotty Miller, Quez Watkins and Marquez Callaway competing to be in the hierarchy of gameday-activated WRs. Third-round pick Roman Wilson and speedy third-year returnee Calvin Austin III also figure into a mix that will sort itself out throughout training camp and the preseason. A lot can happen between now and when the season opens Sept. 8, but Jefferson is the proverbial leader in the clubhouse to be a so-called ‘starting’ receiver for the Steelers in 2024.”

NEWS FROM AROUND THE SPORTS NOW NETWORK

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Recapping Penguins’ wild Day 1 free agent moves, trade, Dubas presser.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: Pirates Power Rankings: Prepping for the trade deadline.

Pittsburgh Sports Now: Pitt lands third Commitment of the Dday in 2025 3-star DB Cole Woodson.

West Virginia Sports Now: National writer projects WVU Football meeting old Big East foe in familiar bowl game.

Nittany Sports Now: It was a great month of June for Penn State Football.

Pittsburgh Soccer Now: Riverhounds run of futility continues in 2-0 loss at Las Vegas.

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