NFL insiders share massive updates on Steelers' Russell Wilson, Justin Fields

Ahead of training camp, it certainly sounded like the Pittsburgh Steelers had all but named veteran Russell Wilson their starting quarterback over 25-year-old Justin Fields.

The situation seemingly has changed now that Wilson has missed some practice time because of what's believed to be a minor calf injury.

"The Steelers ultimately will get into practices as serious as any in the league," ESPN's Dan Graziano explained in a piece published Sunday. "...So the Steelers will get a real sense of how the offense is operating and whether Fields can bring things to it that Wilson can't. Fields definitely has work to do to catch Wilson in the race for the starting job, but the Steelers are open-minded about his ability to do so."

Graziano isn't alone in thinking Wilson could lose his spot atop the depth chart to Fields by the end of August. As shared by Josh Carney and Matthew Marczi of Steelers Depot, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo said during an on-air segment on Sunday that he believes Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin could hold "an open competition" for the QB1 gig through August.

"The longer I talk to people about this one, the more I'm thinking that this one is more open than we're giving it credit," Garafolo explained. "...To be fair, Mike Tomlin never said that it was closed. All he said was that Russell Wilson was in the 'pole position.'"

Pittsburgh can move on from both Wilson and Fields next offseason, and some believed as far back as March that the Steelers and Wilson could part ways before September if Tomlin gave Fields the nod for the Week 1 matchup at the Atlanta Falcons. For Sunday's article, Graziano pointed out that "it's conceivable (Wilson would) ask the Steelers to cut or trade him" if such a scenario played out.

"Wilson's contract with Pittsburgh includes a no-trade clause, which would give him some control over where he went if the team did move him," Graziano continued. "But if he can't beat out Fields for the job, you have to wonder whether the Steelers would be able to get anything of value for him in a deal anyway."

While Graziano added on Monday he thinks "Fields will show enough through camp to catch (Wilson) and claim the Week 1 starting spot," the ESPN reporter acknowledged that "most people disagree" with such a take.

As of Monday morning, FanDuel Sportsbook listed Wilson as the betting favorite at -620 odds to start over Fields (+400) at Atlanta. Pittsburgh opens the preseason with a home game against the Houston Texans on Aug. 9.