Russell Wilson can’t afford to promise strangers reunions if the Steelers are serious

When the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Russell Wilson in the offseason, they also signed his personality and his ego. If there’s one thing that got Wilson in trouble both in Seattle and later in Denver, it’s that he gets a little too confident – sometimes – and forgets who’s really in charge.

That’s all well and good as long as Wilson is winning Super Bowls and playing at an All-Pro level, but if he’s competing for a starting spot, as he technically is in Pittsburgh, he doesn’t have the same latitude.

Wilson will likely get the job as the Steelers’ starting quarterback, although the team has not yet admitted it. Justin Fields will be the backup. However, Pittsburgh’s armory full of weapons is missing a few key ingredients, namely a second wide receiver opposite George Pickens. Van Jefferson and Roman Wilson are not good enough.

A transfer remains possible, including one for Brandon Aiyuk or Courtland Sutton. Signing one of Russ’ buddies won’t solve much, though. Former Seahawks wide receiver John Ursua, who last played in the

NFL in 2021 and regularly trains with Wilson, claims a reunion in Pittsburgh could be imminent.

“After these two or three opportunities to train with Russ, we spoke again with my agent and with Pittsburgh,” Ursua said on The Sick Podcast: “Steelers Crazy!” “I’m keeping my fingers crossed and hoping. Russ and I have great chemistry so I think it would make a lot of sense, but we’ll have to wait and see. Hopefully I get that little workout or an invite to camp.”

Ursua is a former seventh-round pick who never quite got his footing in the NFL. He has been playing in Canada since 2021, and unless one of Wilson’s Steelers teammates gets injured, it’s unlikely the Steelers are his ticket back to the NFL.

Perhaps it would be more concerning if Wilson was working behind the scenes to get his friend a job. Ideally, Wilson would stay out of Ursua’s conversations with Pittsburgh management. Nothing good can come of that, and the Steelers are under no obligation to give Wilson a better life. He’s on a one-year contract for a reason.

Ursua reaching out on his own is one thing. Wilson using his influence to give Ursua a chance is another, and further proof that Russ has not changed his ways.