Justin

Fields

Bringing back both quarterbacks could prove difficult, but it sounds as if Rooney is fine with moving on from one of the two signal-callers either way. Wilson has been closely linked to the Raiders since they went out and hired Pete Carroll as their head coach, but any talks about a reunion between Wilson and Carroll are pure speculation at this point. Fields played well during his six starts with the Steelers, leading the team to a 4-2 record while throwing for 1106-5-1 on the year and rushing for another 201 yards and five touchdowns. How the coaching staff’s decision to bench him may play into his desire to re-up with the team is to be determined, but the Steelers may be the only team willing to hand Fields a starting job entering camp, which could spur a decision. Rooney also said he wants to sign a quarterback to more than a one-year deal, which could also entice Fields or Wilson to come back. Currently holding the No. 21 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, it seems unlikely that the Steelers will find their solution at quarterback in the draft, which could make Fields/Wilson their best options for next season.

Holder calls Fields “intriguing” and notes that Colts GM Chris Ballard “evaluated [Fields] closely during the player’s days at Ohio State” and noted the eighth-year GM had “a fondness for Fields before the 2021 draft.” This is not the first Colts beat we’ve seen this offseason linking Fields to the Colts as a measuring stick for Anthony Richardson. Holder also noted that Richardson’s back injury is “not something that will impede Richardson in the long term” and that it is believed to be “related to the use of an orthotic walking boot Richardson had been wearing.” If the Colts do shift to a run-heavy offense with quarterback keeper plays more heavily emphasized, Fields would be a perfect fit for the system. That also could make the winner of a Richardson-Fields quarterback competition a league-winner type of fantasy football pick. The possibility is, as Holder said, “intriguing.”

Head coach Mike Tomlin was non-committal on their quarterback situation days after their playoff loss to the Ravens and will likely dance around the issue until we get closer to free agency. That said, Dulac is of the opinion that Fields could be the QB1 next season due to his age, and the success he enjoyed during his six games as a starter this season. Fields posted a 4-2 record as the Steelers’ starter, and threw for 1,106-5-1 while completing a career-high 65.8 percent of his passes. On the flip side, Dulac also points out that Russell Wilson “was brought here to end the playoff victory drought, and it didn’t happen,” and a reason to move on from the 36-year-old vet. There’s a lot to play out in the coming weeks/months, but the Steelers’ re-upping with Fields this offseason rather than overspending on an underwhelming QB market would make a lot of sense for both sides.

“We are certainly open to considering those guys, but we have a lot of work ahead of us,” Tomlin told reporters Tuesday. It’s hardly a surprise given the shortcomings of both Fields and Wilson as Pittsburgh’s starter in 2024. Wilson, who appeared this fall to be on his way to establishing himself as the Steelers’ medium-term starter, collapsed down the stretch and would seem unlikely to return to the team for next season. Fields, meanwhile, could stick around if he doesn’t get interest from elsewhere. Fields in 2024 was 21st in quarterback success rate among 42 qualifying QBs while Wilson ranked 33rd.

The dust has barely settled on Saturday night’s road loss to the Ravens, and people have already started to take notice of the Steelers’ quarterback conundrum in 2025 and beyond. Russell Wilson will be 36 at the start of next season and looked like anything but the answer for the Steelers. At best, he would be a short-term solution to the team’s quarterback woes. Now they’ll soon find themselves at a crossroad on whether or not to re-sign him this offseason. The same can be said of Justin Fields, whom at 25, played the best football of his career this season only to be benched after a 4-2 start in favor of Wilson. It’s safe to assume that may not help the team during negotiations, as Fields is also set to become a free agent this offseason. The Steelers will enter 2025 with the same problems they had entering 2024 — with no franchise quarterback on a team that may be a high-end starter away from competing deep into the playoffs. They have other holes to fill, but the one at quarterback will remain glaring until it is fixed. How Tomlin and the front office decide to approach it this offseason could ultimately determine his long-term future with the team this time next year.

The Steelers have toyed around with specific packages for Fields throughout the season after he filled in as the starter for the injured Russell Wilson to begin the season. Up to this point, their hand has typically been played face up with Fields on the field, so it will be interesting to see the extent of his packages against the Ravens. Instilled as 9.5-point road underdogs in the Wildcard Round, the Steelers have nothing to lose as they chase an opening round upset.

It looks like Fields will be ready to return to the lineup in Week 18 against the Bengals. Russell Wilson was limited as a resting vet, meaning Fields took some first-team reps today. It is possible he gets more work than usual against the Bengals if the Steelers have no motivation to try to win the AFC North.

Fields is unable to go as expected while dealing with his abdominal injury, but he will be the emergency third quarterback. The 25-year-old signal-caller will all but assuredly sit with Kyle Allen being the backup to Russell Wilson for the Christmas Day showdown.

Fields, 25, is listed as questionable and got in two limited practices prior to the Christmas Day showcase against the Chiefs. Kyle Allen will be the backup to Russell Wilson assuming the former first-round pick does indeed sit.

He got in two limited practices this week after getting hurt on a run against the Eagles in Week 15. Fields packages have been used seven times in four games since he lost the starting job to Russell Wilson. You can move on if you’re rostering him still.