Mike Tomlin: Russell Wilson has ‘pole position’ on Steelers QB job, but Justin Fields has ‘opportunity to compete’

When the Steelers overhauled their quarterback room, it was reported that Russell Wilson would be the clear starter over Justin Fields, both of whom Pittsburgh acquired in March.

It turns out that it’s not that cut and dried.

Head coach Mike Tomlin spoke with reporters on Sunday for the first time since the Steelers acquired the two quarterbacks and traded former starter Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles. Per Tomlin, Wilson has “pole position” to start the offseason. And Fields will have an “opportunity to compete.”

“Rest assured, when it’s time to compete, Justin will be given an opportunity to compete, and we’ll allow those guys to sort themselves out,” Tomlin said, per Steelers Now’s Nick Farabaugh. “But I thought it was appropriate to describe it in a way for when we get started.

“Russell’s in pole position, and I think his body of work justifies that. And just from my conversations with Justin, he is excited about working alongside Russell and learning some of those veteran tricks of the trade from behind a guy who has been around for over a decade.”

That’s far from the undisputed starter status that was being portrayed around Wilson following Pittsburgh’s offseason moves. And it makes a lot more sense.

Russell Wilson has a leg up on the Steelers quarterback job, but he won’t go unchallenged. (RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

Tomlin relishes competition

Tomlin said from the start of Pittsburgh’s offseason that he envisioned a quarterback competition in the fall.

“I think competition is good,” Tomlin said in February. “I think it’s good for all of us. I think it brings out the best in all of us.”

That was in reference to Pickett and long before the Steelers brought on Wilson and Fields. But there’s nothing about Pittsburgh’s offseason that suggests that Tomlin would move away from his philosophy of fostering competition.

Why would Steelers hand Wilson the job?

The Steelers didn’t go out and acquire Patrick Mahomes. They signed Wilson after…

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Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-03-25 01:10:18

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