Multiple reports out of Pittsburgh Steelers training camp allude to the possibility that the quarterback position is no longer a certainty. There is a real possibility this ends up being a battle to name their starter for the 2024 season. You can’t blame them for keeping an open mind about the possibility after not seeing supposed starter Russell Wilson yet as he works back from his calf injury.
With those first-team reps, hungry backup Justin Fields has not thrown away his shot at becoming the answer for the Steelers in week one and beyond, which should cause some worry for a team like the Atlanta Falcons. Despite the fanfare Wilson got when he signed, Fields is a much more dangerous adversary to this Falcons defense, and possibly the NFL than Wilson.
Coming into this offseason, the Falcons were tied to both of these quarterbacks in the offseason for different reasons:
- Fields is the hometown hero. Born in Kennesaw, GA, the writing was on the wall for the 25-year-old dual-threat quarterback with generational prospect Caleb Williams on a crash course to join the Chicago Bears. In the final year of his rookie deal ($3.23 million cap hit), Fields was looking to find one last stop to prove his worth.
- Wilson was the estranged quarterback, left for dead after the Denver Broncos decided to take on a historic dead cap hit just to rid themselves of him after a failed stint with new head coach Sean Payton. So, in 2024, the 35-year-old former Super Bowl champion is not only available, but his contract is a steal ($1.21 million cap hit, according to OverTheCap.com).
The Steelers decided to take both options for former Falcons head coach Arthur Smith, and the thought process was that Wilson come in and be the starter, with the capable Fields as a backup, ready in case of emergency.
However, throws like this one are making the organization wonder if they should give the young gun some run.
Idk how Mike Tomlin or the Steelers could talk themselves into starting a 35-year old injured Russell Wilson over Justin Fields…
— 𝙉𝘼𝙅 (@najeeadams_) August 3, 2024
1. this is an insane throw
2. the offensive upside the steelers would have with JF1 is incredible
pic.twitter.com/WoQidPs5Ix
Wilson will run the show efficiently, there's no doubt about that. He is more than capable of utilizing weapons like George Pickens on the outside and helping marry the physical run game with a downfield passing attack that Wilson is known for.
Only, how explosive is that arm of Wilson's now? Especially after this injury?
Before last season, Wilson's intended air yards per attempt didn't dip below 8.5 (lowest mark - 8.6, 2020, still ranked 6th-highest in NFL). That number dropped significantly to 7.1, the 8th-lowest among 32 qualified quarterbacks in 2023.
Wilson's fast-ball pitch, his signature shot, is his ability to maneuver out of the pocket and find an awaiting receiver downfield, but now, there are questions of whether Wilson is still able to add that dynamic element to the offense.
Those concerns aren't present with Fields, it's well-documented how much of a weapon he can be with his legs. Fields' 2220 rushing yards are the most of any quarterback in NFL history not named Baltimore Ravens' Lamar Jackson.
If you recall in 2022, one of Smith's best jobs as an offensive play-caller, the Falcons were ranked third in rushing yards, fourth in yards per attempt, fourth in rushing EPA and fifth in rushing success rate behind the legs of Cordarrelle Patterson, a rookie Tyler Allgeier and quarterback Marcus Mariota. And no offense to the former Hawaii Heisman winner, but he does not have the dynamic arm of Fields.
So, the physical run game, the dynamic ability and the overall upside all favor Fields...it's looking like it's not looking as Danger-Russ in Pittsburgh right now.
