During this offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers have often been involved in various rumors and extensive conversations, primarily due to the significant absence at the crucial quarterback position on their team.
Curiously, during this same period last year, the Steelers deliberately chose to sign two quarterbacks to fairly brief, one-year deals, actions that were generally seen as financially prudent. Nonetheless, as this offseason progresses, neither of these quarterbacks is part of the Steelers organization, resulting in a considerable gap that must be filled for the starting quarterback position next season.
One of these quarterbacks was the experienced veteran Russell Wilson, who has recently signed a new one-year deal, but now with the New York Giants.
The other quarterback, Justin Fields, recently signed a two-year contract with the New York Jets, which entails a significant financial investment, reflecting the Jets’ firm confidence in his abilities and future within their organization. At the beginning of the 2024 NFL season, Fields took on the role of starting quarterback for the Steelers.
This chance emerged because of an unfortunate calf injury sustained by Wilson during training camp, which kept him out for the first weeks of the regular season. Nevertheless, after Wilson completely recovered and returned to active duty, Fields was eventually placed on the bench, with Wilson taking back his position as the starting quarterback for the rest of the season.
Recently, Zack Rosenblatt, a senior writer for The Athletic, published a post that conveyed Fields’ personal emotions and viewpoint about the experience of being sidelined after starting the season with the Steelers.
Though Fields’ time as the Steelers’ starting quarterback started with great potential after being traded from the Chicago Bears, his strong showing early in the 2024 season raised concerns when he was ultimately benched.
“It felt different for me and was a place I didn’t feel at ease,” Fields shared in the post. “However, Coach Tomlin took a decision he believed was in the team’s best interest.” “I will never oppose that.”
Fields led the Steelers to a promising 4-2 record in his first six starts, demonstrating his skills as a dual-threat quarterback. In those games, he showcased his passing skills by achieving 1,106 yards, completing five touchdowns and impressively tossing just one interception. Additionally, Fields skillfully leveraged his athleticism, enhancing the Steelers’ offense with his mobility, rushing for an impressive 289 yards and scoring five rushing touchdowns.
This remarkable performance and the squad’s strong record during his leadership led many observers and supporters to wonder about the later choice to bench him, especially considering the season’s relatively early phase. His ability to threaten defenses both through the air and ground posed a distinct obstacle for rivals, and his performance metrics indicated a quarterback who was skillfully orchestrating the offense and aiding in wins.
While sources suggested that the Steelers were initially interested in keeping Fields for an additional season, his response to being benched last year clearly demonstrates some discomfort with that circumstance. Nonetheless, following his recent transfer to a different team, it seems that Fields is ready to take on the position of starting quarterback, offering him a major and encouraging chance to display his skills.
Interestingly, the Jets were the recent previous team of seasoned quarterback Aaron Rodgers for a short time. Rodgers is presently the focus of extensive speculation indicating that he will be the Steelers’ starting quarterback for the upcoming NFL season. Although an official statement hasn’t been issued, Rodgers has emerged as the leading candidate for the Steelers’ quarterback opening, and there are reports suggesting that the Steelers have made a contract offer to him and are now waiting for his response.
Fields Will Compete Against The Steelers This Year
While the Steelers have not officially confirmed the potential acquisition of Rodgers, the encouraging reports hint at the likelihood of several exciting matchups in the approaching NFL season. Significantly, Rodgers and Fields share a background of competing on the field since Rodgers dedicated most of his distinguished career to the Green Bay Packers, a strong NFC North divisional adversary to Fields’ previous team, the Bears, resulting in numerous intriguing encounters between the two quarterbacks.
The Steelers are set to meet the Jets in the upcoming NFL season, a clash that holds the promise of a revenge tour for both teams, turning it into a game that numerous football fans are already looking forward to. For the Steelers, if they manage to secure veteran quarterback Rodgers, this matchup would create an intriguing story against his old team, the Jets, introducing an additional level of intensity and personal stakes to the game.
Conversely, for the Jets, this game will mark a meeting with their former quarterback, Fields. This sets the stage for a potentially emotionally charged game for Fields as well, providing him with an opportunity to compete against the team that initially brought him in, but did not ultimately offer him the long-term starting role. The alignment of these storylines, with both Rodgers and Fields potentially having added motivation against their recent teams, elevates this particular matchup on the schedule to one that promises significant intrigue and compelling narratives for fans to follow.
