The Pittsburgh Steelers made it official Wednesday, naming QB Russell Wilson because the crew’s Week 1 starter. For some, it was as apparent because the solar rising within the east day-after-day. Others thought that Justin Fields acquitted himself nicely with the surprising alternative of Wilson being sidelined with a calf pressure by means of a lot of coaching camp.
Now, the Steelers face two most important questions in regards to the quarterback place. Will Wilson win them video games and can Fields see the sphere a lot in 2024?
“You’re coping with two quarterbacks who get sacked greater than every other in soccer,” ESPN’s Ed Werder mentioned when requested how lengthy Wilson can be beginning in Pittsburgh on First Up on TSN 1050 Thursday morning. “And the Pittsburgh offensive line is a query…You query whether or not they’re going to have the ability to defend both of these quarterbacks.”
The Buffalo Payments sacked Wilson 3 times in his preseason debut for the Steelers. OT Broderick Jones was liable for two of these sacks. Now, the offensive line regarded significantly better in opposition to the Detroit Lions final Saturday. Jones credited his psychological method with serving to him bounce again versus the Lions.
However that was in opposition to the Lions’ backups. In Week 1, the Steelers play the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons just lately acquired Matthew Judon to bolster their go rush. Judon solely performed in 4 video games for the New England Patriots in 2023, however he nonetheless had 4 sacks in these 4 video games. That was after two straight seasons of double-digit sacks, together with 15.5 in 2022.
So Werder questions whether or not the Steelers’ offensive line will maintain up all through the season. With G Isaac Seumalo sidelined with a pectoral harm, the road actually has questions. Who will substitute Seumalo at left guard? Will or not it’s rookie Mason McCormick? That may imply two rookie starters proper subsequent to one another together with C Zach Frazier. Will OT Troy Fautanu be wholesome sufficient to start out the season? Or will or not it’s Jones at proper sort out?
These questions may hold offensive line coach Pat Meyer up at evening. And so they may spell hassle for Wilson. It’s why Werder thinks the Steelers will make a swap in some unspecified time in the future through the season.
“I’d say at in all probability the midpoint of the season, the Steelers can be able to contemplate a quarterback change if not earlier than,” Werder mentioned. “Wilson simply holds the ball so lengthy… I believe Wilson proved final 12 months he can nonetheless win video games and carry out nicely and keep away from turnovers, which is a giant query. However I don’t suppose he’s gonna final behind that offensive line.”
Earlier in his profession, Wilson had the athleticism to get out of the pocket and make performs on the run. Nevertheless, he’s 35 and can flip 36 through the 2024 NFL season. That athleticism isn’t the identical as when he gained a Tremendous Bowl and made a second one with the Seattle Seahawks.
And if the Steelers can’t get the offensive line defending nicely in 2024, Wilson may merely run out of time because the crew’s starter.
