The Pittsburgh Steelers are a team surrounding with question marks entering the 2024 season. The Steelers have yet to decide whether former Bears quarterback Justin Fields or veteran Russell Wilson will be the starter.
On top of that, the team doesn’t have much playmakers at the wide receiver position other than George Pickens. Although there are rumors that the team is attempting to trade for San Francisco 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk. The Steelers lack depth behind their star No. 1 wideout, and an injury to Roman Wilson has not helped preseason preparations for Mike Tomlin and his coaching staff.
There have been several changes to the roster since the end of the 2023 season. General manager Omar Khan has filled some holes and upgraded positions. However, there are still several questions surrounding this roster.
Who starts at quarterback in Week 1?
Fields and Wilson are participating in the highest-profile quarterback battle in the NFL preseason.
Both players have plenty to prove in 2024, too. Fields needs to show he can still be a starter after a rocky time in Chicago, while Wilson should be motivated because this may be his last chance to earn a starting gig in the NFL.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter shed some light on Wednesday’s quarterback competition on NFL Live.
“I think Russell Wilson remains in the pole position, but I also think that Justin Fields has opened some eyes, and they see the type of offense they could have,” Schefter said.
“I think Russell Wilson remains in the pole position, but I also think that Justin Fields has opened some eyes, and they see the type of offense they could have.” 👀 @AdamSchefter gives us the latest on the QB competition in Pittsburgh. pic.twitter.com/3Z4Zyz6Wi6
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) July 31, 2024
Wilson may be the projected starter thus far. However, if Fields impresses in the preseason, the Steelers may have no choice but to begin the year with the former Bears quarterback.
No decision is imminent, which could hurt the Steelers progression as a team. It’s much better to have a starter in place as soon as possible so they can gain all first-team reps instead of splitting them with another player. This allows the Steelers offense to gel, without Pittsburgh having to cater to two different styles of play.
Who fills in wide receiver depth behind George Pickens?
The Steelers have another major issue on offense, which is the wide receiver position.
George Pickens is the very clear No. 1 pass-catcher on the roster. However, there needs to be more clarity behind him on the depth chart.
Wilson, a third-round receiver out of Michigan, was one of the players expected to step up behind Pickens. Unfortunately, he suffered an ankle injury this summer and is considered week-to-week. That leaves Van Jefferson, Calvin Austin III, Quez Watkins, and Scotty Miller as the remaining depth at the position.
The Steelers should wrap Pickens in bubble wrap from now until Week 1, so they at least have one reliable pass-catcher for their quarterback.
The wide receiver depth will sort itself out over three preseason games. However, there is little confidence in the group, since all aforementioned candidates have not been in that role for most of their careers. And while the Aiyuk rumors have heated up over the last few hours, but nothing is set in stone.
Who starts opposite Joey Porter Jr. at cornerback?
Cameron Sutton’s eight-game suspension means the Steelers will spend most of the preseason searching for a starter opposite Joey Porter Jr. at cornerback. Veteran corner Donte Jackson makes the most sense as the new starter in the secondary. Of course, that could always change if someone else steps up in preseason.
Anthony Averett, Darius Rush, Beanie Bishop Jr., and Grayland Arnold should all receive reps at corner throughout the preseason. They will need to prove if they can compete for the No. 2 corner spot, or take the spot vacated by Sutton on the 53-man roster.
How do the tackle positions shake out?
The Steelers have drafted tackles in the first round in the last two years. For most teams, this would mean they have drafted themselves two starting tackles. Not for Pittsburgh, however.
Despite trading up for Broderick Jones in the 2023 NFL draft, he was left on the bench for the first half of the season. Jones got on the field only when Chukwuma Okorafor was benched for disciplinary reasons. Fast forward to 2024, and coach Tomlin still needs to commit to two young tackles as starters.
While we all believe Jones will be on the left and rookie Troy Fautanu on the right – yet there is no guarantee. Given Tomlin’s reluctance to move on from veteran Dan Moore in the past, Moore may remain the starter. And until the Steelers offensive line is decided, it just adds another question mark for the Pittsburgh unit heading into the 2024 season.
