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Justin Fields is entering a brand new situation ahead of the 2024 NFL season. He spent his first three years with the Chicago Bears, but he was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers during the offseason. After being locked in as a starter with the Bears, he will need to compete for a potential starting role during training camp this year.
The Steelers also acquired Russell Wilson during the 2024 NFL free agency, so the two quarterbacks will likely battle it out for the starting role. The Steelers will likely analyze their two options during their offseason programs and determine which one is going to lead the team into Week 1.
This process has reportedly already begun during their minicamps, according to Mark Kaboly of The Athletic, via the New York Times. Unfortunately for Fields, some of his shortcomings were pointed out as apparently glaring when he was showing off his skillset.
The report said:
"The arm strength, speed and playmaking with his legs are undeniable. However, he showed inconsistent accuracy and relied on his feet too quickly after the first read. That stuff can be fixed, but maybe not throughout a training camp."
The assessment of Justin Fields being a run-first quarterback is justified by his time with the Bears. His passing statistics left much to be desired, including just 40 touchdowns and 30 interceptions combined across three years. His rushing numbers were much more impressive, including recording the second-most rushing yards in a single season by a quarterback.
The trraining camp battle between Fields and Wilson will be one of the most interesting situations to keep an eye on ahead of the 2024 NFL season. The Steelers will need to decide whether they want to go with Wilson's overall experience or Fields' elite athleticism.
Justin Fields' odds to be Steelers' Week 1 starting QB
While the Pittsburgh Steelers are rumored to be using their training camp to determine the starting quarterback, apparently the oddsmakers disagree. According to DraftKings sportsbook, Russell Wilson is a massive (-700) favorite to eventually be named the Week 1 starter.
This leaves Justin Fields as a distant (+450) underdog to win the starting job. It will be interesting to see if things play out this way, as the franchise hasn't committed to either of them long-term yet. Wilson and Fields are both currently on one-year contracts for the upcoming season.
