The National Football League season is almost upon us. Pittsburgh Steelers players reported to training camp on Wednesday, July 24th, and among them were many new faces.
The new-look Steelers include many offseason additions, including headliners Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, Donte Jackson, and Patrick Queen. After playing ten seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, Wilson left for the Denver Broncos where he spent the last two seasons. The Broncos released Wilson in a salary-cap-related move this offseason.
Wilson went on to sign a veteran minimum contract with Pittsburgh. He enters Steelers training camp in “pole position,” an analogy that he has the best starting position for the starting quarterback job in the words of Mike Tomlin according to ESPN reporter Brooke Pryor.
Yet one Pittsburgh insider thinks the decision has already been made for who will be helming the Steelers in Week One.
“They don’t have enough time to get Russell Wilson ready and acclimated to this offense and have Justin Fields go through a training camp battle with him,” said The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly via 93.7 The Fan. “It’s like the battle of two years ago. Mitch Trubisky, okay, he’s in a battle with Kenny Pickett and whoever. No, it never happened. I mean, they’re telling us right to our face. This is how they go about their quarterback competitions. Russell Wilson is the guy.”
Story continues below advertisement
There have been many changes in the Steelers’ offense with the addition of new quarterbacks and coaching. Wilson is a former Super Bowl champion who led the Seahawks to the title game twice. With experience like that, it makes sense to hand the reins over to Wilson instead of taking the time and reps to have a quarterback battle for the starting spot.
Pittsburgh has a team capable of making a deep playoff run and with the regular season just over a month away, they will be looking to get all of their new players acclimated.
More NFL: Steelers Workout Russell Wilson’s Former Backup Before Training Camp
Featured image via Stephen R. Sylvanie/USA TODAY Sports