NFL insider addresses reports on Steelers’ Russell Wilson, Justin Fields
from Zac Wassink, with Yardbarker.com/www.yardbarker.com
Longtime NFL insider Jason La Canfora continues to insist that the Pittsburgh Steelers will have quarterback Justin Fields compete with veteran Russell Wilson for their starting job this summer.
“Everybody will tell you, ‘Russ, Russ, Russ, Russ’ [when] you talk to people who cover the team,” La Canfora said about the Steelers’ quarterback situation during the latest edition of the “In The Huddle” podcast, as shared by Ross McCorkle of Steelers Depot. “I’m not told (that), and I in the past have been a big Russ guy. They’ve been looking at Justin Fields for a long time, and maybe it starts out as a two-headed monster, but I think that’s a team that needs to win time of possession.”
La Canfora mentioned shortly after Pittsburgh acquired both of the signal-callers in March that he believed Fields would “have to have a catastrophic preseason” to open the regular season as the club’s backup because “a lot of people in that Steelers building” are “very high” on the 25-year-old.
Since then, however, Wilson reportedly emerged during Organized Team Activities as the leader in the clubhouse to start at the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1 on Sept. 8.
Per Jacob Punturi of Fan Nation’s All Steelers, ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported last week that the team-friendly contract Wilson signed to join Pittsburgh has a no-trade clause. Graziano suggested that gives Wilson “some say” within the organization.
Others previously noted that new Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith will feature a run-heavy scheme that could be perfect for Fields. Smith may also create special packages for Fields even if head coach Mike Tomlin officially names Wilson the club’s QB1 in August.
“I think Justin Fields is gonna show, and maybe show pretty quickly, that there’s just a level of more dynamic high notes that he can hit with that offense, and the dual threat, I just think is gonna carry the day, especially the way they built the thing up on defense,” La Canfora explained, going on to say that Wilson is “throwing a lot of check downs” and is “not airing it out like he used to” at this stage of his career.
For what it’s worth, Pro Football Reference shows that Wilson and Fields both averaged 6.9 yards gained per pass attempt this past regular season.
As of Tuesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed Wilson fifth among the betting favorites at +1200 odds to claim the Comeback Player of the Year Award for the upcoming campaign.