The arrival of Russell Wilson in the Steel City started hotter than a summer training camp, but the last few weeks have been a total disaster. The recent fortunes of Mike Tomlin’s team have raised questions about Wilson’s future in Pittsburgh.
Can they turn it around, or is this the beginning of the end for the veteran QB in Pittsburgh?
Adam Schefter Gives Honest Take on Russell Wilson/Pittsburgh Steelers Partnership
The Steelers, currently 10-6, are in a free fall. While they have clinched a playoff berth, this late-season slump has fans and analysts scratching their heads as they go deep into the season. Wilson, who signed a one-year, veteran-minimum contract after his Denver debacle, showed flashes of his past self this season.
He has totaled 2,334 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and five interceptions, along with two rushing TDs in 10 games. But lately? Not so much. NFL insider Adam Schefter weighed in on Wilson’s future, stating that the Steelers would like to re-sign him.
But Schefter also pointed out the obvious: finding an upgrade at QB this offseason will be tough. The NFL talent pool has limited top-tier free agents if the newcomers are not factored in. Pittsburgh also doesn’t have the luxury of landing a top draft prospect, so they might be stuck with what they’ve got.
Schefter believes the real issue is building a stronger roster and winning the turnover battle. “If they’re not getting turnovers, they’re not going to win. In the last three weeks, they’ve lost to three superior teams when they haven’t gotten turnovers,” Schefter said.
.@AdamSchefter breaks down Russell Wilson's future with the Steelers ✍️ pic.twitter.com/YEmScGNPji
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This has been especially true during their three-game losing spree against “superior teams,” when their turnover margin plummeted to minus two. Tomlin’s success this season has largely been built on its +15 turnover margin, the second-best in the NFL. But that magic has vanished recently.
Over the past three games, Wilson’s numbers have also dipped. He’s completed just 64.1% of his passes for 550 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions, with an 82.2 passer rating. He’s also been sacked 10 times and struggled against the blitz.
The absence of George Pickens hasn’t helped, and Wilson’s deep ball accuracy has also suffered. Schefter summed it up best — the Steelers are a good team but not one of the “big boys” right now.
Wednesday’s 29-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, combined with the Baltimore Ravens’ 31-2 win over the Houston Texans, has knocked the Steelers out of first place in the AFC North. With the final game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Jan. 5, the Steelers must find a way to recapture their early-season form.