Justin Fields 'will NOT immediately compete with Russell Wilson for the starting quarterback job in Pittsburgh' - as former Chicago Bear is told he will ride the bench to begin season

Russell Wilson will not have immediate competition for the starting job in Pittsburgh, after Justin Fields 'was told he will be the Steelers' back-up to start the season'.

Pittsburgh have brought in two high-profile quarterbacks this week, signing Wilson after he was cut by the Denver Broncos, and then Fields from Chicago in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round pick.

Fields' move raised questions over whether there would be a battle for the starting job in Pittsburgh, but new reports claim that Wilson will be uncontested to begin the new season.

Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette posted on X that the Steelers have 'told Fields he is coming in to be Wilson's backup'.

Given the two players' ages, that may change over time, with Fields just 25 and Wilson 35 and heading into the twilight years of his career.

Russell Wilson speaks to the media for the first time since being traded to Pittsburgh

Hours later, it was announced that he will be joined on the Steelers roster by Justin Fields

It may be make or break for both players in 2024, though, with both having endured difficult seasons for the Broncos and Bears respectively.

Wilson was traded to Denver in what turned out to be one of the most misguided moves in NFL history, with the Broncos signing him to a five-year, $242.6 million deal.

They went 11-19 with him as the starting quarterback and failed to see the playoffs in both seasons.

Furthermore, his time in white and orange came to a sour close when he was benched by head coach Sean Payton with two games remaining in 2023.

Wilson signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh after getting cut by the Broncos after two years

Fields was drafted 11th overall by the Bears but struggled in his three seasons in Chicago

Fields, meanwhile, was widely seen as expendable after the Bears landed the top pick of next month's NFL Draft, where they are expected to take a quarterback. 

The return for Fields isn’t much, considering he was taken 11th overall by the Bears just three years ago.

Since then, the athletic Georgia native has tossed 40 touchdowns and 30 interceptions, while rushing for another 14 scores. 

The Bears were 10-28 in games in which he started, and missed the playoffs in 2023.