If Russell Wilson returns because the Pittsburgh Steelers’ beginning 2025 quarterback, some members of the teaching workers gained’t be comfortable. That’s how NFL insider Adam Caplan sees the staff’s scenario, believing Wilson is uncertain to return after a rocky first season with the staff. A lot that some coaches needed him benched earlier than 2024 ended.
“I’ve been on report and we’ll see what occurs,” Caplan advised Scott Ferrall on Ferrall Coast to Coast Thursday. “It’s not unimaginable. I do know there’s some individuals within the Steelers who want to see him again. I believe there’s some coaches who have been hoping to bench him final season however overruled, as I perceive it.”
Caplan’s ideas on Wilson’s unlikely return aren’t new. However his commentary about his debated benching is fascinating commentary and information we haven’t heard in such clear phrases earlier than. He doesn’t refer which coaches needed him benched, maybe OC Arthur Smith who has all the time appeared keen on QB Justin Fields, nevertheless it’s straightforward to know who could be doing the overruling. Mike Tomlin has ultimate say on who begins and who doesn’t, admitting he went “lone ranger” to begin Wilson mid-season after recovering from a summer time calf damage.
Caplan doesn’t define the precise timeline of when coaches felt it was time to vary. Presumably, it got here into the Steelers’ five-game shedding streak, the staff’s first such one since 1998. Pittsburgh’s offense went again right into a shell, averaging a paltry 14.2 factors per sport.
Justin Fields’ late-season damage difficult any consideration to a quarterback change. He suffered an stomach damage on his lone carry in Week 15 in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles and missed the following two contests, which got here on quick weeks, due to it. He returned for the common season finale however didn’t play, and logged simply two offensive snaps within the Wild Card loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Nonetheless, Caplan believes the group stays optimistic about Fields’ possibilities transferring ahead.
“They’re very intrigued with Justin Fields, who by no means actually obtained a shot,” he mentioned.
Fields began the primary six video games and led Pittsburgh to a 4-2 report. His play improved from his time in Chicago, however the Steelers’ offense struggled to place up factors whereas Fields struggled in a Week 6 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Throughout Wilson’s first begin, the NBC broadcast revealed Tomlin remarked that if he switched again to Fields, he wasn’t altering once more. Finally, he caught with Wilson the entire means by on account of his resume and time within the league.
“They needed to go along with Russell Wilson’s expertise, however they need to have given Fields a shot at that time.”
The Steelers have one other resolution to make: re-sign Fields or Wilson? Up to now, the staff has turned to and caught with Wilson at each alternative. Caplan doesn’t suppose that’ll occur once more, however as even he and others have famous, Tomlin’s loyalty to Wilson can’t utterly rule him out.
