The quarterback competition of the Pittsburgh Steelers is officially over.
After a training camp and preseason full of questions regarding who’d start for the Steelers, Mike Tomlin ended the conversation on Wednesday. Pittsburgh’s head coach announced that Russell Wilson will start at quarterback in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons, with the now 13-year veteran beating out former first-round pick Justin Fields for the job.
The Steelers signed Wilson to a one-year, $1.21 million deal after the passer was released by the Denver Broncos in the offseason.
Wilson started the second and third preseason games for the Steelers. In the third game against the Detroit Lions, the 35-year-old led Pittsburgh down the field for a touchdown drive, which ended up being his only drive. He threw for 26 passing yards on 2-of-2 passing — both passes being caught by top wideout George Pickens.
The nine-time Pro Bowler is coming off a season where he threw for 3,070 passing yards and 26 touchdowns over 15 games. Wilson also ran for 341 yards and added three more scores on the ground.
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Pittsburgh will try and get the season off to the right track with Wilson leading the way when they take the field against the Falcons in Week 1 on Sep. 8 at 1 p.m. EST.
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