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Justin Fields has no plans to remain tied to the bench all season and simply cede the starting quarterback job to Russell Wilson. He’s fighting for QB1!
The passer recently opened up on the Steelers‘ offseason competition, saying he expects to see the field. You have to love the confidence!
Justin Fields said he’s “definitely competing.. Russ knows that. We’re competing against each other every day.
“I definitely don’t have the mindset of me just sitting all year.” pic.twitter.com/pzI9rj5ldi
— Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) May 21, 2024
“I’m definitely competing,” Fields said while speaking to the media this week. “I definitely don’t have the mindset of just sitting all year. I’m coming in everyday, giving it all I’ve got. I’m pushing [Russell Wilson] to be his best, and he’s pushing me to by my best each and every day.”
It’s an outlook you want to see from a player expected to serve in a reserve role – which Fields most certainly is.
The Steelers acquired him from the Bears this offseason following a three-year stint in Chicago. While he flashed incredible dual-threat abilities on the field, the passer could never find sustained success, going just 10-28 as a starter.
Pittsburgh also brought in Russell Wilson, though, with the supposed intention of handing him the starting role. Further fueling that narrative was the fact that previous starter Kenny Pickett was let go shortly thereafter.
In return, Wilson signed for the league minimum, meaning his former team will be paying him more than his current squad this fall.
Here’s a bit more from Yahoo! Sports on that deal.
When the Broncos benched quarterback Russell Wilson and it quickly became obvious that they’ll cut him before his 2025 salary of $37 million becomes fully guaranteed on March 17, a sense emerged that Wilson will take the league minimum elsewhere ($1.21 million) and stick the Broncos with the balance of his $39 million fully-guaranteed compensation package for 2024.
However, Wilson won’t be doing that as a backup. He’ll want, in exchange for his willingness to take so little, a commitment that he’ll be the starter.
That being said, it doesn’t seem Justin Fields is willing to simply adhere to his new teammate’s demands. He plans to battle for that starting role, too!
And based on Wilson’s performance over the last two seasons in Denver, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Fields win out.
It should be a fun quarterback battle to watch unfold as the season nears.