The Pittsburgh Steelers have been in quarterback purgatory for years now, dating back to Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement following the 2021 season. When will they get out of this state of limbo at the most important position in professional sports? That depends on several things. It depends on who you talk to, and it also depends on how the 2024 season unfolds.

As you know by now, Mike Tomlin has named Russell Wilson the starting quarterback for the Steelers in Week 1 when the team travels to Atlanta to play the Falcons in the season opening game. Therefore, Wilson will get the first crack at potentially proving he is the man for the job, not just for 2024 but beyond.

Wilson’s play will determine if the Steelers are happy with having the aging quarterback at the helm beyond this season, but it is fair to ask how long of a leash Wilson will have before the team turns to Justin Fields.

We’ll get there in a second.

After talking with our source within the organization, it was made clear the Steelers are intrigued by Justin Fields, and why wouldn’t they be? The young man has an insane ceiling, but there are times when the floor is as insane as the ceiling. Can they get him to narrow that gap, without decreasing the ceiling?

So far the Steelers have been more than pleased with his progress. His ability to pick up a new system, take to coaching, and receive tutelage from veterans like Russell Wilson have left the Steelers wondering if Fields could be their answer at quarterback.

But how would they ever know if he doesn’t play?

Now back to the leash of Russell Wilson. According to our source the potential “leash” for Wilson will likely be about 5 games. If Wilson is playing well and the Steelers are winning, they aren’t going to pull the plug on the quarterback just to see if Fields can be their guy. If Wilson is winning, and doing so in impressive fashion, they will roll with him until those things stop.

However, if Wilson isn’t playing well, and the quarterback play leaves a lot to be desired, the Steelers very well could turn to Fields not just for a spark, but to see what they have in the young signal caller. It would give him ample time to prove his worth before the season ends and he is slated to be a free agent in 2025.

Don’t get the message twisted though, this isn’t a “bridge year” for the Steelers in 2024, Pittsburgh Pirates fans know all about that term, but the Steelers trying to see what they have and if any of these quarterbacks could be their answer to success in the near future. For those who are curious, here is the slate of games Wilson will have in that 5 game stretch to show he is the man for the team:

Week 1: at Atlanta Falcons
Week 2: at Denver Broncos
Week 3: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Week 4: at Indianapolis Colts
Week 5: vs. Dallas Cowboys

How will this play out? No one knows at this juncture, but the Steelers are determined to see if their solution at quarterback post-2024 is on the roster or if they’ll be in the quarterback market once again before the 2025 season.

To hear plenty more on this topic, check out the Monday episode of “Let’s Ride” in the player below, and be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the Falcons next Sunday in Week 1.