There’s a quarterback competition brewing in Pittsburgh, but oddsmakers aren’t seeing it as much of one at all.
Newly acquired signal-caller Russell Wilson is a -750 favorite at FanDuel Sportsbook to be the Steelers’ starting quarterback come Week 1 of the 2024 season despite the team trading for Justin Fields, who is a +450 long shot to usurp Wilson.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin affirmed Wilson’s spot at the top of the depth chart in late March at the NFL owners meetings, but he left the door open to Fields stealing the job.
“We’ve been very transparent about the pecking order, at least to start,” Tomlin said, according to ESPN. “I just think that provides clarity for all parties involved. Russell is a veteran, man. He’s got a proven process of readiness. He’s been in this league a long time. He’s capable of rallying troops, receivers, tight ends, running backs, etc.
“He’s just got a lot of experience in terms of what it takes to be the guy over the course of a 12-month calendar and I just think that that’s something that a younger guy like Justin could learn from.”
“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 added.
The Steelers added both Wilson and Fields in March in a wholesale change to their QB room after trading away Kenny Pickett.
With the Broncos in 2023, Wilson, 35, threw for 26 touchdowns with eight interceptions.
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The nine-time Pro Bowler was benched by head coach Sean Payton in late December and later released by the club in March.
Fields threw 16 touchdowns and ran for four more with nine interceptions in 13 games for the Bears in 2023.
After moving on from Fields, the Bears are widely expected to select USC quarterback Caleb Williams as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.