Ahead of the 2024 NFL season, Russell Wilson was named the Pittsburgh Steelers' starting quarterback. That all changed when he hurt his calf on the first day of camp when, for some reason, he was pushing a sled.
It has been a long road to recovery for such a seemingly minor injury. Wilson returned after a month and got playing time in the preseason but reaggravated the injury shortly before Week 1 of the regular season. Justin Fields has stepped in since then and has largely played well.
Last week was Fields' first performance that really disappointed, though to say he was bad would be a stretch. As a result of Fields' Week 5 showing and the Steelers losing two straight, Wilson could start at any time now that he's healthy.
Yet, there is another option; a few quarterback-needy teams exist with which the Steelers could do business and seek to get something in return for the former Seahawks and Broncos quarterback if they are confident in moving forward with Fields as the starter.
One such team is the Miami Dolphins, who The 33rd Team's Jeff Diamond has predicted will land Wilson in a deal with the Steelers ahead of the trade deadline.
If the Steelers can get a later-round draft pick for a player they invested so little in, I think they’ll jump on it. Miami is the most likely destination, considering Tagovailoa’s tenuous situation, and Wilson is a clear upgrade over Tyler Huntley or Skylar Thompson.
After their starter, Tua Tagovailoa, suffered another concussion, Miami has had to turn to Skylar Thompson and Tyler Huntley. Even if Tua comes back this season, his health is far from guaranteed and Wilson would provide a major upgrade over the backups Miami has now.
The former All-Pro also costs pennies on the dollar. The Steelers — or whatever team he plays for — are only on the hook for whatever's left of his $1.21 million salary.
With the trade deadline approaching on Nov. 5, there are still several weeks of football left where the Steelers could put Wilson on the field and give him a chance to show he is better than Fields, or at least that he is still good enough to be worth trading for.
With Kyle Allen being serviceable as a backup, it would be no surprise to see Pittsburgh move Wilson for a Day 3 pick in the NFL Draft, assuming he'd be willing to waive his no-trade clause.
If this trade does end up taking place, it could be a win for both teams, though it remains to be seen what Wilson himself thinks about the subject.
