Insider picks Steelers' starter between Justin Fields, Russell Wilson

Well-known longtime NFL insider Jason La Canfora isn't buying that the Pittsburgh Steelers acquired quarterback Justin Fields from the Chicago Bears to have him sit behind veteran Russell Wilson for any length of time this fall. 

"I think Justin Fields is their starting quarterback," La Canfora said about the Steelers during a Tuesday appearance on Fox Sports Radio's "The Jason Smith Show with Mike Harmon," per Jeremy Pike of Steelers Depot. "I think he'd have to have a catastrophic preseason for it not to happen. There's a lot of people in that Steelers building who were very high on Justin Fields."

While multiple reports have insisted that the Steelers have Wilson cemented atop the depth chart, it's worth noting that his contract will cost Pittsburgh only $1.2M for the 2024 campaign because the Denver Broncos are on the hook for nearly all of the $39M owed to the 35-year-old. Additionally, Wilson suggested on Friday he would compete with 2022 first-round draft pick Kenny Pickett for the Pittsburgh starting job this summer. Pittsburgh then traded Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles ahead of this past weekend. 

In short, it seems the Steelers' quarterback situation can change at any point between now and September. 

Backup Mason Rudolph won starts from Weeks 16-18 to help the 2023 Steelers make the playoffs, and Wilson seems more likely than Fields to take Pittsburgh back to the postseason next winter. According to ESPN stats, Wilson finished this past regular season ranked eighth in the NFL among qualified players with a 98.0 passer rating and ninth with 26 passing touchdowns that he recorded across 15 games. To compare, Fields was 24th with an 86.3 passer rating, and he tossed 16 touchdown passes over 13 contests. 

As Pike mentioned in a different piece, ESPN NFL insider Jeff Darlington hinted during Tuesday's edition of the "Get Up" program that Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin will give Fields opportunities to impress from training camp through the preseason. Wilson may begin the summer as Pittsburgh's QB1, but history suggests he should enter camp believing he'll have to outperform Fields in practices and exhibition games to keep the job for Week 1.