Now that Justin Fields reportedly has been traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, questions are bound to arise about whether he or Russell Wilson will be the team’s starting quarterback.
According to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, a source said via text that Wilson is going to be the team’s starting quarterback.
Is it a competition between Russell Wilson and Justin Fields in Pittsburgh?
One source just texted: “Russ is the starter.”
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 16, 2024
The Chicago Bears reportedly are trading their now-former starter to the Steelers in exchange for a pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. It is a sixth-round choice that will become a fourth-round selection if Fields plays in at least 51 percent of the snaps this season.
BREAKING: Justin Fields has been traded to the Steelers, per @RapSheet pic.twitter.com/ZUoUWHNXCU
— Ahn Fire Digital (@AhnFireDigital) March 16, 2024
If the source is accurate about Pittsburgh’s quarterback depth chart, that might be a difficult snaps percentage for Fields to reach if he remains the backup to Wilson in the 2024 campaign. The veteran signed a one-year contract with the Steelers this week after being let go by the Denver Broncos earlier this offseason.
Earlier this month, one NFL coach speculated that the Bears might have been able to acquire a first-round pick in a trade for Fields. What they did manage to get is obviously not close to that.
But trading Fields clears the way for the Bears to grab a new franchise quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft in April. It is believed that it will be Caleb Williams of the University of Southern California.
Fields, who himself was the No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by Chicago out of Ohio State University, expressed gratitude to the Bears organization on social media.
Can’t say thank you enough to the city of Chicago for taking me in and embracing me. Thank you to the entire Bears organization and ownership for allowing me the opportunity to be part of such a historic franchise. But most of all thank you to my all my brothers that I played… pic.twitter.com/fT1dORwFU5
— Justin Fields (@justnfields) March 16, 2024
Last season was arguably his best in the NFL as he reached a career-high with 2,562 passing yards. The 25-year-old is entering the fourth season of his rookie contract with a fifth-year option available.
Coincidentally, the Broncos reportedly were linked to Fields as they explored the quarterback market after moving on from Wilson.
