In a preseason matchup against the Buffalo Bills, the Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback competition took center stage as both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields had underwhelming performances. The battle for the starting position remains unsettled, with neither quarterback making a strong case for themselves on Saturday.

During the 9-3 loss to the Bills, 35-year-old Russell Wilson completed 8 out of 10 passes for a total of 47 yards. However, the offense failed to put any points on the board during Wilson's five series, which included three three-and-outs. Wilson was also sacked three times, raising concerns about his decision-making and ability to navigate the pocket effectively.

On the other hand, rookie Justin Fields also struggled to find his rhythm against the Bills. Fields completed 11 out of 17 passes for 92 yards and showcased his athleticism with 42 rushing yards. However, he did take one sack and unfortunately fumbled the ball once again, after already fumbling twice in the preseason opener against the Houston Texans.

It should be noted that Steelers coach Mike Tomlin placed the blame for the offensive struggles on the offensive line rather than solely on Wilson or Fields. "We didn't do a good enough job of protecting the quarterback," he expressed in a post-game interview. Tomlin emphasized the need for improvement in pass protection, not just on possession downs but overall.

Tomlin acknowledged that evaluating Wilson's performance was challenging due to the stagnant offense. He stated, "It's somewhat of an incomplete study because you just don't get a chance to see them operate or us operate or us establish rhythm and personality when you're not winning possession downs." The lack of offensive success early in the game hindered the opportunity for both quarterbacks to showcase their abilities effectively.

The Steelers' decision to sign Russell Wilson to a one-year, $1.2 million contract came after the Denver Broncos decided to move on from him. The Broncos opted to have $85 million in dead money on their cap rather than continue with Wilson as their starting quarterback. Furthermore, the Steelers acquired Justin Fields via a trade with the Chicago Bears in March, following the Bears' decision to select Caleb Williams as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The quarterback competition in Pittsburgh has intensified due to these moves, as the Steelers also traded away 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett, who was sent to the Philadelphia Eagles. Additionally, Mason Rudolph, who started three games for the Steelers last season, signed with the Tennessee Titans.

The Steelers have one more preseason game remaining, as they face the Detroit Lions in Detroit before kicking off the regular season against the Atlanta Falcons on September 8. The team will need to carefully assess the performances of Wilson and Fields to make a definitive decision on their starting quarterback moving forward.