There was controversy surrounding Pittsburgh's quarterback situation for Week 7. After leading the Steelers to a 4-2 record, many believed Mike Tomlin should have stuck with Justin Fields. The 25-year-old offers youth, experience, and hope at the position.
Instead, Tomlin confidently made the switch to Wilson. So far, the results are speaking for itself.
Wilson is just one start into his Steelers career, but fans should be encouraged by what they witnessed on Sunday Night Football. The savvy veteran missed several passes in the first half before pouring it on in the final two quarters. Though his stat line wasn't gaudy, Wilson proved more than capable of moving the ball through the air.
Combined with a strong performance by the defense and special teams, Wilson helped lead the Steelers' offense to a 37-point outing in primetime against the Jets. Barring an injury setback, Wilson isn't going anywhere. He will be Pittsburgh's starting quarterback moving forward. Now it's time to capitalize on this narrow window.
Steelers must make moves to crack their Super Bowl window open
Sitting on your hands is only okay if you have nothing to play for. That's not the case for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024. This team is off to a 5-2 record and is +60 in point differential entering Week 8 (5th in the NFL).
Here's the problem: Russell Wilson turns 36 years old in November. Even if he plays well for the rest of the season, can the Steelers trust him to be a better player in 2025 or beyond?
Because of his age, Wilson won't be the 'future' of this team. The time to pounce is now, and the Steelers should get aggressive before the trade deadline.
Though Pittsburgh's wide receivers are collectively coming off their best game of the season, it's hard to believe they have a capable answer outside of George Pickens in the receiving game. To make the most of this Super Bowl window, Omar Khan should be calling teams about a trade for a wide receiver as the days count down until the NFL trade deadline.
It's very possible that, by this time next year, the Steelers are back in a situation without a competent answer at the quarterback position. Anything can happen when you cash your ticket into the postseason, and with Russell Wilson impressing in his debut, Pittsburgh needs to capitalize on a window of opportunity and bolster their roster before the deadline.