Yahoo Sports Senior NFL reporter Charles Robinson is on the road covering training camps. Today’s stop: the Pittsburgh Steelers, who also visited by Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports in July.
About the QB
The think tank believes the 2025 starting QB is on that list. Time is running out for Russell Wilson to show he can be a reliable starter. Meanwhile, the feeling is that Fields’ exceptional running/playmaking could offset his still-developing passing ability. Heading into the preseason finale, Fields has a better chance than ever to win the job.
Rookie to watch
A sprained ankle early in camp scuppered the staff’s decision to take wideout Roman Wilson in the third round. In large part because Wilson showed enough development to make a Brandon Aiyuk trade seem a little less intense. Whether or not Aiyuk is added, Wilson could be a key player in 2024. But he needs to get on the field as soon as possible.
I keep my eye on
A Brandon Aiyuk trade is just a phone call away from the San Francisco 49ers. But the 49ers have gone radio silent as they continue to trumpet an Aiyuk extension. Don’t get me wrong: The 49ers are vetting Plan B, which involves seeing what kind of wideout they can acquire with draft picks the Steelers offer up for Aiyuk.
Fantasy thought
TE Pat Freiermuth didn’t light up the preseason, but he’s the player I think will be the default winner if a Brandon Aiyuk trade falls through. George Pickens is going to get his targets regardless. But Freiermuth is the second-most reliable receiver on the roster. And if Justin Fields wins the QB job, he’ll find a tight end he trusts (see: Cole Kmet in 2023).
What I saw was interesting
There’s a palpable sense of relief within the Steelers organization that there’s a QB decision that isn’t Kenny Pickett vs. Mitchell Trubisky. They’ll never say it publicly, but the think tank was drained last season by the lack of downfield passing and overall playmaking ability at the position. I no longer wonder why the entire QB depth chart was dumped.
Wildcard
There’s no love lost between the Steelers and Baltimore Ravens when it comes to inside linebacker Patrick Queen switching sides in this rivalry. Internally, the Ravens don’t feel like they’ve lost anything with Queen’s departure, while the Steelers feel like they’ve added a key piece to coordinator Teryl Austin’s scheme. I’m here for the bad blood on this one.
