NFL insider shares Justin Fields warning for Steelers' Russell Wilson

The Pittsburgh Steelers seem to have a quarterback hierarchy established as one insider thinks it's clear that veteran Russell Wilson would start over Justin Fields if the club had to play a meaningful game this weekend.

With that said, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport believes the situation could possibly change if Wilson misses too many summer practices, as he did on Thursday due to a calf issue.

"Russell Wilson needs to be careful," Rapoport warned during Thursday's edition of NFL Network's "The Insiders" program, as shared by Alex Kozora of Steelers Depot. "If he can in any way control this, he needs to be careful because this really is how it happens, right? I mean, Justin Fields went out there today, sounds like he was pretty impressive. There's a throw to (wide receiver) Van Jefferson that everyone's been talking about. And Justin Fields as a thrower, as an athlete, there's a lot of really impressive things that he can do."

"Pretty impressive" may be a bit of an embellishment regarding how Fields performed while Wilson served as an inactive practice participant. Mark Kaboly of The Athletic was among beat reporters who noted that, as was the case throughout springtime workouts, Fields at times "looked like a first-round pick" and at times "looked like a guy who is still trying to find his way with accuracy and consistency" on Thursday. That seems fair considering it was reported earlier this week that Fields was "still working on processing the game more quickly, knowing his reads, getting to those reads more quickly."

Rapoport mentioned that Wilson "could practice very soon," but the NFL media personality nevertheless feels that Fields could provide head coach Mike Tomlin and others with something to think about as long as the one-time Super Bowl champion signal-caller is sidelined.

"That's how it happens and that's how momentum builds," Rapoport continued. "So obviously Russell Wilson is doing what he can to get out there, but it certainly is important that he does so at a very fast pace."

As of Friday morning, FanDuel Sportsbook continued to list Wilson as the betting favorite at -620 odds to start over Fields (+400) for Pittsburgh's regular-season opener at the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 8.