Report: Russell Wilson at odds with Arthur Smith, unlikely to return to Steelers

Perhaps scratch out what I mentioned a month in the past concerning the Seattle Seahawks taking part in Russell Wilson’s Pittsburgh Steelers subsequent season. They’ll undoubtedly be taking part in the Steelers, however Russ at quarterback is a special story.

A pair of insiders have reported that the Steelers aren’t anticipated to re-sign Wilson in free company. There’s native Steelers reporter Dejan Kovacevic with a extra scathing method of claiming Wilson’s days in Pittsburgh are over:

I’ll hold this brief and really a lot to the purpose: Russell Wilson’s not needed by the Steelers.

Like, in any respect.

I had a number of conversations Thursday with folks contained in the workforce, all on my lengthy drive up right here to Manhattan to cowl hockey, and the common sentiment amongst them relating to the participant who quarterbacked the offense to a five-loss collapse to shut the season was this: Don’t attempt right here what you tried in Denver upon that ugly exit from the Broncos after a public spat with Sean Payton, which was accountable others in your shortcomings.

Additionally this: There’s the door.

We’ll circle again on this in a second.

Then there’s nationwide NFL insider Jay Glazer indicating that Wilson might be taking part in elsewhere.

The Steelers indicated that they want to re-sign certainly one of Wilson or Justin Fields however not each. It’d be unsurprising in the event that they opted with the youthful choice with a lot more energizing legs than Wilson, who might be 37 in November.

However let’s get again to Dejan’s report as a result of there’s a backstory right here. Longtime Steelers reporter, Pittsburgh Publish-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac, wrote earlier within the week that Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and Wilson clashed over the offensive philosophy. How dangerous did it get? Apparently after a 500+ yard efficiency and over 400 yards from Wilson in a 44-38 win in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals, Wilson misplaced the liberty to audible out of Smith’s calls.

A number of sources have advised the Publish-Gazette the offense lacked creativeness and that the audibles and route changes Wilson was making on the line of scrimmage had been making a battle with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.

[…]

In response to a number of sources, Smith didn’t need Wilson altering performs on the line of scrimmage, like he did in Cincinnati, and deviating from the sport plan.

Wilson’s need to assault with the move and throw down the sphere clashed with Smith’s run-first mentality, inflicting philosophical friction between the 2.

Pittsburgh failed to attain greater than 17 factors in its closing 5 video games, one thing not seen in Steelers historical past since Chuck Noll’s rookie season, which led to a 1-13 file. Wilson’s numbers had been hardly catastrophic however the offense ceased to attain or actually do a lot of something after the win over the Bengals.

Now let’s get again to Kovacecic’s report, which signifies that this can be a story planted by Wilson’s workforce:

However I’m advised that Wilson’s brokers, a part of his voluminous entourage, put forth that narrative, and so they did so in an obvious try to both protect his standing in Pittsburgh or improve the possibility that one other workforce would possibly need him as a starter.

Enunciating each syllable: It received’t be right here.

No likelihood.

None.

What really occurred with Wilson, in accordance with those self same folks contained in the workforce, is that, as all of our bare eyes might plainly inform us, he wasn’t following the play calls, he was holding the ball method too lengthy and, throughout the latter, he now not might escape defenders within the backfield. I additionally heard inner issues expressed — for the primary time, I’d add — about his arm energy. He simply wasn’t good, except for the odd prayer ball he’d heave up for George Pickens.

I’m probably not positive the place the arm energy issues have come from provided that’s the one factor he nonetheless does at a excessive stage, however no matter. One factor that has occurred is that three of Wilson’s 5 highest sack charges of his profession have are available in his post-Seahawks seasons. He’s not remotely the identical dashing menace that he as soon as was (understandably), which signifies that near-sacks that become magic are actually simply sacks.

We’ve additionally had this story earlier than. Again in 2022, a narrative got here out that Wilson needed Brian Schottenheimer fired on the finish of the 2020 season, which the Seahawks did. There was the far more public clashing between Sean Payton and Wilson when Russ was with the Denver Broncos, however that story was so much completely different than simply disagreeing over offensive philosophy and is extra pointed at Denver’s resolution to sit down Wilson for harm assure cash functions. Now we’ve received this little bit of drama in Pittsburgh, resulting in a bitter finish after such a promising begin.

On one other observe, Wilson obtained a second-placed vote from The Athletic’s Dianna Russini for AP Comeback Participant of the 12 months.