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The Pittsburgh Steelers only scored three points in their game against the Buffalo Bills. Even though it’s preseason, they used Russell Wilson and Justin Fields as quarterbacks, who are competing for the starting job.
That’s a big deal.
Last season, the Steelers struggled to move the ball and score. Matt Canada’s offensive plan was often criticized for being ineffective. People thought switching to Arthur Smith would help improve things.
Maybe it’s time to think again.
Quarterbacks are crucial in football, and the Steelers might have underestimated how important good QB play is. Coach Mike Tomlin has never had a losing season, but relying only on defense won’t cut it if they want to go far in the playoffs. Fans don’t want another 10-win season ending with an early playoff exit.
Russell Wilson started training camp as Pittsburgh’s top quarterback, but Justin Fields is gaining ground. Fields is younger and has more long-term potential, while Wilson seems like a short-term solution. If Wilson can’t help the team score, it makes no sense to keep him as the starter.
Wilson could even be traded before the season starts. Former New York Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum thinks that’s what should happen.
Former GM advocates for Steelers-Vikings trade centered on Russell Wilson
The Minnesota Vikings need a quarterback after J.J. McCarthy’s knee injury ended his season. They seem okay with Sam Darnold as QB, but they need a reliable backup or maybe even an upgrade to feel secure.
If Wilson loses his job with the Steelers, he could be an obvious target for Minnesota. Pittsburgh might as well get some draft picks for him before he leaves anyway.
“Unfortunately for Minnesota, history is repeating itself,” said Tannenbaum. “We go back to 2016 when Teddy Bridgewater got injured and Sam Bradford was traded from the Eagles to the Vikings. Trading Russell Wilson to Minnesota could be a win-win because I think he’s better than Sam Darnold.”
There are bigger factors here—Wilson has a no-trade clause, so he can choose where he goes—but Minnesota might be his best option if he gets to start over Darnold. The Vikings have lots of talented players like star receiver Justin Jefferson, making it a good place for any quarterback.
Right now, Wilson is still leading Pittsburgh’s QB competition. Mike Tomlin might stick with experience despite wanting to give Fields a chance for the future.
