Former NFL QB doesn't understand why the Steelers are: 'Handing the car keys to Russell Wilson'

While some believe the Pittsburgh Steelers are about to head to training camp with a QB battle on the horizon, that simply isn't true.

The coaches have all but said outright that the job is solidified as Russell Wilson's, with Justin Fields preparing to jump in should the Steelers start slow.

But according to former NFL QB Chase Daniel, Pittsburgh's plan should be the opposite.

Chase Daniel wants to see Justin Fields

"I love him [Justin Fields], and if you just go purely on the film based on last year, he was playing at a really high level before he got hurt and then missed some games, and then [returned and] played at a really high level," Daniel told Diana Russini on The Athletic's podcast Scoop City . "Which made Ryan Poles, the GM of Chicago, his entire process a lot more difficult than a lot of people probably thought by going and drafting Caleb Williams, trading Justin Fields. I just thought he really played well down the stretch, and I was very, very loud about it on all my social media last year. I know Chicago people loved it. I just don't get why they're handing the keys to the car to Russell Wilson after that disastrous stint with Sean Payton in Denver."

Pittsburgh is banking on veteran leadership and a fresh start for Russell Wilson as their best chance to succeed. The proposition is risky, however, as if Pittsburgh starts slow given their daunting back half of the schedule , their 2024 season could be over before it begins.

And just given the hierarchy of how these "battles" go, Wilson is 10 years Fields' senior, has nine Pro Bowls to Fields' zero, and had a Super Bowl ring while Fields was still in grade school.

So if you're Pittsburgh, you believe that pedigree is better to start with, with youth being the option for either later in the season or potentially for seasons to come should Fields perform well.

Now, how Fields receives opportunities to do prove himself will be the question. If things go to Pittsburgh's plan, Fields never touches the gridiron in a meaningful setting, and we know he is on a one-year deal following Pittsburgh's decision to decline his fifth-year option .

Fields will need to run with whatever opportunity comes his way.

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