Russell Wilson has led the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 4-1 record since taking over as the starting quarterback, but former NFL MVP Cam Newton believes that the team have been ‘carrying’ him
Cam Newton made it clear he’s not impressed by Russell Wilson’s performance, despite the latter’s success in leading the Pittsburgh Steelers on a 4-1 run as the starting quarterback. According to Newton, the praise for Wilson has been overblown with the team having ‘carried him’.
Despite Justin Fields boasting a 4-2 record as QB1, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin opted for Wilson, which seemed to pay off particularly with wide receiver George Pickens shining.
However, following a defeat to the Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football, Newton shared his candid thoughts on his former competitor during his 4thand1 podcast.
He said: “Russell Wilson is being carried by the Pittsburgh Steelers. I’m looking at his situation and I’m saying he’s not doing anything different.”
Furthermore, he questioned the quality of teams they’ve faced with a sly comment: “What alarms me was this statistic that is like ‘Wilson is undefeated, the Steelers are 4-0’- who have they played? They played the Jets, the Giants, a still-on-the-bubble Washington Commanders team, and they played the Ravens. By the way, Chris Boswell kicked all their points [vs Baltimore].”
Since stepping in as the starter, Wilson has nailed seven touchdowns to two interceptions, sporting a notable 98.6 quarterback rating.
This impressive stat places him at 10th in the NFL, surpassing stars like Patrick Mahomes, Matthew Stafford, and Brock Purdy.
Despite his top-notch performance, Wilson’s stint with the Steelers might not be set in stone. On just a one-year deal, Pittsburgh’s offensive coordinator Arthur Smuth has made comments hinting they view Fields as the main man, saying: “I still view Justin and he is, I think, [a] premium starter in this league, so it’s a fine line. You don’t want to be a gadget guy, but he can help the team.”
As Wilson eyes free agency after this season ends, he could land a lucrative contract as numerous teams desperate for a quarterback upgrade might enter the bidding war.