NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported on October 13 that the Pittsburgh Steelers are unlikely to entertain trading quarterback Russell Wilson.
Despite Wilson being dressed for the first time in the 2024 season during Week 6, the Steelers chose to start Justin Fields at quarterback. However, this doesn’t mean the team sees Wilson as expendable.
“There have been no trade talks surrounding Russell Wilson,” Pelissero shared on NFL Network on the morning of October 13. “I don’t sense there’s much appetite to trade him, even if the phone rings.”
Pelissero also mentioned that there’s a belief Wilson will see the field for the Steelers “in the coming weeks.”
Impact of Week 6 on the Steelers’ QB Situation
Pelissero’s report surfaced just hours before the Steelers’ Week 6 matchup. Following their 32-13 win against the Las Vegas Raiders, questions arose about how the quarterback situation might evolve.
Wilson was active but didn’t play against Las Vegas, leaving his standing with the team unchanged. Fields, however, remains in a somewhat uncertain position despite helping secure the win.
Fields completed 14 of 24 passes for 145 yards, while also rushing for 59 yards and two touchdowns. He was sacked three times and his passing performance wasn’t stellar, reflected in his 75.9 passer rating, the lowest of his season. However, his QBR of 74.7 was his best of 2024.
QBR takes into account all of a quarterback’s contributions to winning, while passer rating focuses more on passing efficiency. Fields has been instrumental in the Steelers’ victories by avoiding turnovers and being effective on the ground, scoring five rushing touchdowns across six games.
That said, his passing stats—averaging 6.9 yards per attempt and 10.4 yards per completion, both career lows—show that he’s struggled to find consistency through the air, leaving a potential opening for Wilson.
Would the Steelers Trade Russell Wilson?
There’s an additional factor in Pittsburgh’s quarterback situation. Pelissero noted that Fields is “beloved” in the Steelers’ locker room. Despite some struggles in the passing game, head coach Mike Tomlin risks disrupting team chemistry if he switches to Wilson, especially after the team’s most decisive win since Week 16 of the previous season.
However, the Steelers aren’t obligated to trade Wilson even if Fields starts in Week 7 or remains the starter up until the NFL trade deadline. Wilson remains a viable option for the Steelers if the need arises.
While the organization has confidence in Fields, Pelissero stated that the Steelers still expect Wilson to take the field eventually. This marks the first time in Wilson’s 13-year NFL career that he hasn’t started at least 14 games in a season, as he’s missed or not played in six games so far.
