Russell Wilson cements status as Steelers' starting QB in preseason finale vs. Lions

Mike Tomlin likely won't declare a starting quarterback until his pre-game press conference when the Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing to travel to Atlanta to take on the Falcons in Week 1. However, whatever quarterback controversy there was before has been put to rest... at least for now.

In the Steelers' preseason finale against the Detroit Lions, it was Russell Wilson who made his second straight start after missing the first preseason game with a calf injury. Against the Bills last week, Wilson looked skittish in the pocket and struggled to move the chains. In five series (nearly two quarters of play) Wilson led the offense to zero points versus Buffalo.

This time around, Tomlin saw exactly what he was hoping to see from his veteran quarterback.

The Steelers received the ball to begin the game and quickly found themselves in a 3rd-and-11 situation. Instead of checking the ball down underneath, Wilson hung in the pocket, went through his progressions, and found George Pickens for a 32-yard reception to get into enemy territory. A few plays later, running back Cordarrelle Patterson punched in a 31-yard run for a touchdown.

Though the Steelers faced Detroit's second-string defense to open the game, it took just two minutes and thirteen seconds and five plays for Wilson and the offense to put seven points on the board. Wilson completed two of two passes for 26 yards while marching his team down the field for a score on the opening drive.

One scoring drive in the preseason was all Tomlin needed to see. Wilson was pulled from the game before the offense's second series.

Tomlin proved Steelers' starting quarterback has already been decided.

On the second offensive position of the game, Justin Fields answered back -- capping off a six-play drive with a touchdown of his own. However, the 'competition' was already decided before Fields took his first snap against the Lions in the preseason finale.

The fact that Mike Tomlin was willing to pull Russell Wilson from the game so early is a telltale sign that Wilson will be Pittsburgh's Week 1 starting quarterback when the Steelers suit up against the Falcons.

This isn't guaranteed to be the case throughout the season. If Wilson has a string of bad performances early in the 2024 season, Fields will be waiting in the wings for an opportunity to prove his worth to this organization. However, there's no question that Wilson will get the first crack at the job.

Fortunately, the easiest stretch of games on Pittsburgh's schedule comes early in the 2024 season. After facing the Falcons on the road, the Steelers have games against the Broncos, Chargers, and Colts to close out the month of September.

Russell Wilson could be on a short leash in 2024, as Pittsburgh is desperate to snap a seven-year drought without a playoff win. But his performance against the Detroit Lions in the season finale will be enough for Mike Tomlin to declare him the Steelers' starting quarterback to begin the 2024 season.