Everyone's Saying the Same Thing About Russell Wilson After Botched Steelers Play

Maybe the one thing that Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson has going for him on Sunday night is the fact that Davante Adams is also making his debut for a new team. Adams was traded to the Jets from the Raiders this week, in an attention-grabbing subplot to the Jets-Steelers matchup.

The way things started in his Pittsburgh debut, at least, Wilson was not looking for attention.

Alas, though, Wilson is still the main story. He is the guy whom Steelers coach Mike Tomlin chose to start here in Week 7 ahead of Justin Fields, who had achieved some modest sucess in guiding the team, even if his numbers (1,106 yards in six games, 93.9 QB rating) were not gaudy. Fields had the Steelers at 4-2, after all.

But the Steelers had intended to make Wilson the starter this year after signing him on a minimum contract in free agency. The team traded for Fields, too, from the Bears to bolster the depth chart. Wilson, though, had been out with a calf injury through training camp and into the start of the season.

On Sunday, Wilson was finally healthy and Tomlin responded by giving him his chance. And almost immediately appeared to regret it.

The highlight--or lowlight, as it were--of the first half came to open the second quarter, on a third-and-8 play for Pittsburgh from their own 36-yard line. Wilson dropped back and threw a short pass to receiver Calvin Austin.

The ball, though, landed about four feet low and outside of Austin. Reaction from Wilson skeptics on Twitter/X was swift and, to be sure, unkind. From Skip Bayless to Barstool Sports to ClutchPoints, the consensus was there: Wilson is not all that good at football these days.

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