Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson feels as if he still has plenty of gas left in the tank.
After two underwhelming seasons with the Denver Broncos, Wilson has found new life with the Steelers, who signed the 35-year-old veteran to a one-year deal in March.
“Man, I feel the fountain of youth,” Wilson said following the Steelers’ first mandatory minicamp practice on Tuesday. “I feel revived in every way, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. I feel confident. I think at some point you have to know who you are as a player, as a man, as a competitor.
“As somebody who’s been fortunate to be able to play this game, I don’t doubt it. I trust it. I felt really good last year playing. I felt really confident in the midst of everything. And so I think right now I have all that confidence times 10.”
Wilson had signed a five-year, $245 million extension with Denver in September 2022, months after being traded by the Seattle Seahawks. He only ended up playing two years of that deal before being released by the Broncos, who still owed him $85 million at the time.
Wilson went 11-19 as the Broncos’ starter, throwing for 6,594 yards, 42 touchdowns and 19 interceptions.
Pittsburgh revamped its quarterback room in the offseason, trading for Justin Fields and signing Wilson, six-year veteran Kyle Allen and undrafted rookie free agent John Rhys Plumlee.
However, as it stands right now, the starting job is Wilson’s to lose.
“Russ is in the pole position,” Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith said. “It’s a competition. Obviously, we get to (training camp), I’m sure things will heat up, but both (Wilson and Fields) knew that, however they were acquired, and they got here and I think it’s been pretty transparent.”
Prior to his stint with Denver, Wilson spent his first 10 NFL seasons with the Seahawks, winning one Super Bowl and getting to another. He has thrown for 43,653 yards and 334 TDs against 106 picks in 188 career games.
–Field Level Media