Russell Wilson

Chargers, Raiders, Ravens Considered Justin Fields In Trades; QB Moving Toward Steelers’ Starting Job

September 26th, 2024 at 10:22pm CST by Sam Robinson

Justin Fields appears to be moving toward solidification of the Steelers’ starting quarterback job, one he could not win during training camp. Pittsburgh is 3-0, and Russell Wilson saw a calf injury deny him the chance to begin a starter run with the team. Wilson remains limited in practice.

While Mike Tomlin is slow-playing this matter, it would be somewhat difficult to see the Steelers pivot back to Wilson after Fields piloted the team to three wins. This always loomed as a possible scenario, despite the Steelers’ offseason party line favoring the more experienced option. Wilson’s status changed when the Steelers acquired Fields days after officially signing the 13th-year veteran, and the Bears helped steer the younger passer to Pittsburgh.

Although it remains farfetched the Bears turned down a notably better offer to send Fields to the Steelers, they are still believed to have done right by their three-year starter to move him to a team without a solidified QB1. Fields confirmed the Bears helped him out by trading him to the Steelers, indicating on Cam Heyward‘s Not Just Football podcast the NFC North team gave him a chance to choose his destination. Months before losing a higher-profile trade sweepstakes that featured Brandon Aiyuk ultimately preferring to stay with the 49ers, the Steelers benefited from a somewhat similar process — in a deal that only cost them a conditional sixth-round pick.

With Wilson looking likely to be Pittsburgh’s backup when he returns to full strength, Fields will probably cost the Steelers a 2025 fourth due to playing more than 51% of the team’s offensive snaps this season. The former first-round pick preferred this situation to others the Bears entertained, telling Heyward other teams with solidified starters pursued him. The Chargers and Ravens were two of those, while Fields added the Raiders — who did not have a surefire starter at that point — were also in the mix.

Bears GM Ryan Poles confirmed other trade paths existed, and Fields was intrigued by the Falcons, Vikings and Raiders before QB dominoes fell. The Raiders, who hired two-year Bears OC Luke Getsy to be their play-caller (after Kliff Kingsbury backed out), were viewed as unlikely to make a serious Fields pursuit in February but then — minutes before agreeing to terms with Gardner Minshew — were reconnected to the Ohio State product. Minshew heading to Las Vegas on a two-year, $25MM deal undoubtedly helped push Fields to Pittsburgh, even though the former needed to win a months-long competition to win the Raiders’ starting job.

The 25-year-old passer said his Bears exit interview gave him the impression he would be traded, with QB recalling Bears brass telling him they faced a “tricky situation” due to holding the No. 1 overall pick for a second straight year. This reminded of Poles’ comments to the media shortly after Chicago’s season ended. As expected, the Bears passed on a fourth Fields season by giving the Steelers the fifth-year option decision. Pittsburgh declined the option, but the team is interested in a post-2024 relationship with the dual-threat QB. Although immediate interest in a post-2024 Wilson contract surfaced as well, that seems less likely to come to pass based on this season’s early arc.

The Chargers received inquiries from the Patriots and Vikings on Justin Herbert but shot them down, leaving no doubt about their QB plan in Jim Harbaugh‘s first season. The Ravens’ penchant for employing dual-threat Lamar Jackson backups — from Robert Griffin III to Tyler Huntley — would have made Fields an interesting piece in Baltimore, but he would have seen no route to a starting job there. Every non-Steelers team to discuss Fields with the Bears viewed him as a backup, and the QB told Heyward he was concerned about the musical chairs game that featured a few spots filled during the legal tampering period. (The Steelers obtained Fields five days into free agency.)

As far as Fields’ Steelers situation goes, he may not only to be moving toward being the team’s starter but reaching a place where the club would allow him to play through mistakes (rather than receiving a quick hook), ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes. Wilson, who battled injuries in Denver, is not yet moving well on his balky calf. This continues to give Fields a runway to win the long-term gig. Even though QBR ranks Fields 21st, he has done enough to keep a defense-powered Steelers team in games.

Fields’ low-octane work does not completely slam the door on Wilson, so it will be a situation to monitor for a while. This could become awkward when Wilson recovers, as the potential Hall of Famer was given some early assurances upon signing. But the vet’s calf injury allowed Fields extensive reps in training camp, where he impressed. And he has continued to gain ground in the weeks since, leading the youngest of Pittsburgh’s passers to the precipice of a QB1 announcement.

Latest On Steelers’ QB Situation

September 19th, 2024 at 9:20pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Steelers are 2-0 with Justin Fields at the helm of their offense, and he is likely to make a third straight start on Sunday. Russell Wilson is still not practicing in full, but when he is healthy his place on the depth chart will be worth watching closely.

Wilson continues to rehab the calf injury which cost him time during training camp and which he reaggravated shortly before the start of the season. Head coach Mike Tomlin has stated Wilson remains the team’s starter (the role he officially earned after the preseason) once he returns to full health, although strong showings from Fields could sway the team’s opinion on that front. Tomlin does not have a true decision to make until both passers are healthy, but Wilson is making progress.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports the Seahawks Super Bowl winner will likely receive a chance as the team’s starter once he has recovered. Wilson’s command of the offense, Fowler notes, remains an area where he is deemed to have an advantage over Fields. That is one factor which led to Wilson remaining in pole position for the QB1 spot throughout the offseason, in addition to his experience and lack of turnover issues relative to Fields. The latter has done well in that regard so far, though, and he will aim to deliver another clean performance on Sunday.

Pittsburgh ranks just 26th in scoring at the moment and 29th in passing yardage. The team has scored only one offensive touchdown through two weeks, and improved efficiency (at least, to a degree) will be needed over the course of the campaign. Fields was viewed by many as the signal-caller with the most upside in the Steelers’ QB room, and an update on this situation from before their Week 2 win suggested Tomlin could stick with the former Bears draftee even when Wilson is back to 100%.

“I’m definitely gaining ground,” Wilson – who practiced on a limited basis Thursday – said, via Fowler’s colleague Brooke Pryor. “I feel good. I was able to do a lot more work today, yesterday, so we’re getting better every day.”

Both Wilson and Fields are pending free agents, so their respective financial futures depend on how the 2024 season shakes out. Wilson could very well still see the field at some point, especially if Tomlin holds firm on the team’s pecking order at the position. As the Kenny Pickett–Mason Rudolph situation demonstrated last year, though, changes to the depth chart can be made based on unexpected performances. When (or if) Wilson gets back in the fold will be an interesting storyline to follow.

AFC North Notes: Fields, Steelers, Wilson, Taylor-Britt, Bengals, Browns, Ravens

September 17th, 2024 at 5:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

Another Justin Fields start is likely on tap for the Steelers, who are 2-0 with the fourth-year passer at the controls. Russell Wilson is not scheduled to log a full practice Wednesday, and Mike Tomlin said (via ESPN.com’s Brooke Pryor) the team is “readying a plan that features Justin.”

The Steelers have not exactly been prolific on offense with Fields, scoring all of 31 points in two games. But the trade acquisition — who entered the offseason as the clear backup — has gained enough ground on Wilson it is believed to have put the starting job in question. The 25-year-old passer has completed 69.8% of his passes, albeit at just 6.3 yards per attempt, but has managed two pilot Pittsburgh to two wins despite questions about the team’s pass-catching group after the much-discussed Brandon Aiyuk trade fell through.

Fields helping the Steelers to a win over the Broncos boosted his case, and Wilson may be running out of time due to a calf issue sidelining him — save for some preseason time — since the start of training camp. A report before that Denver matchup suggested Wilson would not lose the job he won due to injury, but it may well be up in the air now.

Here is the latest from the AFC North:

Stepping into the No. 1 cornerback role to start his third season, Cam Taylor-Britt pulled down a spectacular one-handed interception of Patrick Mahomes in the Bengals‘ Week 2 loss. With the Bengals expecting a big year from Taylor-Britt, The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. notes this would put the former second-round pick on the extension radar come 2025 (subscription required). Taylor-Britt will be eligible for a second contract next year, and while the Bengals are poised for a second round of Ja’Marr Chase negotiations in 2025, a quality Taylor-Britt showing this year would leave them an easier extension to complete.
Attempting to move from a decorated wrestling career to the Bills, Gable Steveson did not turn that bid into a spot on Buffalo’s active roster or practice squad. The former Olympic gold medalist is not shutting down football aspirations, with NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo noting he worked out for the Ravens this week. The 24-year-old wrestling convert competed as a defensive lineman in Buffalo, with Bills preseason games doubling as Steveson’s first football games at any level.
The Browns and Bears completed a trade for defensive tackle Chris Williams just before the season. The pick-swap deal involved the Bears sending the Browns a 2025 sixth-round pick (originally from the Vikings) for Williams and a conditional 2025 seventh-rounder, Cards Wire’s Howard Balzer notes. The sixth that went to Cleveland was originally a Miami selection.

Justin Fields Could Remain Steelers’ QB1 Regardless Of Russell Wilson’s Health?

September 15th, 2024 at 10:43am CST by Rory Parks

Earlier this week, we heard that the Steelers were likely to start Justin Fields at quarterback in today’s Week 2 matchup against the Broncos as Russell Wilson continues to work his way back from a calf ailment. We also heard that Wilson, who was named the starting QB at the end of August before aggravating the calf injury, was likely to reclaim the QB1 post when healthy enough to do so.

This morning, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com confirmed that Fields would get the nod today. However, Rapoport also added that if the former first-round pick of the Bears leads Pittsburgh to a victory, head coach Mike Tomlin may opt to keep the younger passer at the top of the depth chart, regardless of Wilson’s health status.

In Rapoport’s estimation, such a decision would not amount to a Wilson benching per se, but rather a case of riding the hot hand (although Wilson might not see it that way). In the Steelers’ Week 1 victory over the Falcons, Fields did not lead the team to a touchdown, but six field goals and a strong defensive performance were enough to carry the day.

Fields was highly efficient in the Atlanta contest, though he was also quite conservative, completing 17 of 23 passes for 156 yards. He also showed off his running ability, adding 57 yards on the ground on 14 carries.

Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith praised Fields’ measured approach. Smith said of Fields, “he was very disciplined. He wasn’t greedy. When the shots were there, we took advantage of them.”

Fields’ prowess as a runner has never been in doubt. Instead, the fact that he never blossomed into a high-end passer is what ultimately led to his trade out of Chicago this offseason, with the Bears taking advantage of the No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft to nab blue chip prospect Caleb Williams. Wilson, on the other hand, has a long history of being a highly-effective passer, even if his last two seasons as a member of the Broncos did not live up to expectations.

As Rapoport observes, Tomlin continued to deploy Mason Rudolph under center in 2023 even after Kenny Pickett was cleared to play, showing that the league’s longest-tenured head coach is not afraid to deviate from his original plans if the situation calls for it. Should Fields deliver another “game manager” performance in Week 2, even if that performance results in a win, Tomlin may still prefer to see what Wilson can do. But if Fields should shine, then the decision could be more complicated.

Steelers Promote WR Ben Skowronek

September 14th, 2024 at 9:19am CST by Ben Levine

Ben Skowronek has once again earned a promotion to the Steelers active roster. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Steelers have called up the wideout from the practice squad.

The former seventh-round pick was traded to the Texans this past offseason but was among Houston’s final cuts. He subsequently landed on Pittsburgh’s practice squad and earned a promotion for Week 1, with all 11 of his snaps coming on special teams.

Skowronek showed some flashes during his time with the Rams, including a 2022 campaign where he hauled in 39 receptions for 376 yards. Third-round rookie Roman Wilson was limited at practice this week while dealing with an ankle injury, so Skowronek provides Pittsburgh with some reinforcement on the depth chart.

Speaking of injuries, quarterback Russell Wilson has officially been listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Broncos. The veteran reportedly made the trip to Colorado with the intent to play his former team (per Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com). Of course, Wilson also traveled to Atlanta for Week 1 before eventually being listed as out, so we shouldn’t read too much into this decision.

If Wilson can’t go, Justin Fields would earn another start with his new squad. There was uncertainty atop the depth chart heading into the season opener, but Fields had the luxury of taking all of the first-team reps this past week. The speedy QB admitted that the extra practice time should help his performance if he does indeed start tomorrow.

“I guess it helps me a little bit,” said Fields (via the team’s website). “But like I said last week, I come into every week the same with the same approach that I’m going to play. I’d rather be ready and just have that mindset.

“So, I guess it helps a little bit. But it’s really the same process for me.”

Justin Fields Expected To Start In Week 2; Russell Wilson Positioned As Steelers’ Starter When Healthy

September 12th, 2024 at 10:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Steelers played it safe with Russell Wilson‘s calf injury in Week 1, turning the offense over to Justin Fields at quarterback. The latter is in line to start once again, although he has ground to make up in terms of moving to the top of the depth chart.

ESPN’s Dan Graziano reports Fields is expected to get the start for Pittsburgh’s Week 2 matchup against the Broncos. That comes as no surprise given head coach Mike Tomlin‘s remarks from earlier in the week. Tomlin confirmed the team is proceeding with the expectation Fields will again get the nod as Wilson attempts to ramp up his participation in practice.

Fields – acquired via trade from the Bears in the offseason shortly after Wilson was signed – did not have an impactful statistical showing in Pittsburgh’s win over the Falcons to begin the campaign. The 25-year-old totaled only 156 passing yards, but he added 57 rushing yards and did not commit any turnovers. Six field goals were sufficient for the Steelers to win on Sunday, but team and player will be hoping for a better showing on Fields’ part if he plays again against the Broncos.

Wilson’s recovery after aggravating the calf injury which cost him training camp time will still be worth watching closely, however. The nine-time Pro Bowler was tapped as Pittsburgh’s starter after an offseason in which neither passer stood out against the other. As Graziano’s colleague Jeremy Fowler adds, Wilson is still likely to assume QB1 duties once he returns to full health. That also matches what Tomlin said earlier this week when addressing the quarterback situation.

As pending free agents, both Wilson and Fields are in a unique situation for 2024. The Steelers completely rebuilt their QB room during the spring while moving on from 2022 first-rounder Kenny Pickett. Wilson’s command of the offense, Fowler notes, is one of the factors which has given him an edge to date as the projected starter. Fields gained support during training camp and the preseason, however, so he could gain further momentum with a strong showing against Denver provided Wilson remains sidelined.

Practice over the coming days will no doubt offer more clarity on how Pittsburgh will proceed under center against the Broncos, and it would be surprising if the team attempted to rush Wilson back into action in short order. The 35-year-old should still be expected to take the field at some point relatively soon, though.

Steelers Preparing For Justin Fields To Start In Week 2

September 10th, 2024 at 1:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

Russell Wilson won the Steelers’ starting job after the preseason, but his return trip to Denver may feature street clothes or another full uniform and no game action.

Mike Tomlin is preparing for Justin Fields to start against the Broncos, The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo notes. The 18th-year Steelers HC said Wilson, who aggravated his training camp calf injury last week, does not have a chance to practice fully until at least Thursday, per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac. Wilson is set to be limited Wednesday, which does keep the door open to a return.

Wilson is feeling better, Tomlin added, but the Steelers — having seen the free agent signing’s calf problem recur — are again leaning toward exercising caution. Wilson still suited up for Pittsburgh’s opener in Atlanta, and given his recent past, he will undoubtedly push to play in Week 2. The Broncos released Wilson after two years, doing so after demoting him — due largely to an injury guarantee in his contract — in Week 17.

Although no Steelers touchdowns occurred in their 18-10 win over the Falcons, Fields completed 17 of 23 passes for 156 yards while rushing for 57. Fields closed the gap on Wilson, despite frequent pole position-related classifications of the Steelers’ QB race this offseason, after the latter’s injury during training camp and would stand to help his case to be Pittsburgh’s full-time starter by playing well in Week 2.

The trade acquisition has not usurped Wilson just yet, Tomlin added (via ESPN.com’s Brooke Pryor), though SI.com’s Albert Breer indicates plenty in the building are excited to see how Fields builds on his first start. This comes after a report that pointed to Fields having significant support in the QB battle from sources at the Steelers’ facility.

More Fields reps may well hurt Wilson’s cause, and although rumors about the Steelers being interested in post-2024 partnerships with both passers, this will probably be the only season Wilson and Fields are teammates. The Broncos benched Wilson largely due to contract concerns; he has never been parked strictly for performance issues. Wilson, 35, had never missed a game until 2021; a finger injury sidelined him then. In 2022, however, Wilson gave way to Brett Rypien twice — because of a hamstring injury and a concussion.

The Broncos moved on via their Bo Nix draft choice at No. 12 overall. Wilson still counts a record-smashing $53MM in dead money on Denver’s payroll, with more than $30MM in Wilson funds — from a post-June 1 cut — to be on the Broncos’ 2025 cap sheet.

Justin Fields To Start Week 1 For Steelers

September 8th, 2024 at 10:49am CST by Rory Parks

Although Russell Wilson was named the Steelers’ starting quarterback at the end of August, it will be Justin Fields under center for the club’s Week 1 contest against the Falcons today. NFL insider Jordan Schultz was first to report that Wilson’s calf strain would keep him on the sidelines and would open the door for Fields to start.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter had previously noted that Wilson told the team he could play, but team doctors were more cautious than the accomplished signal-caller. ESPN’s Brooke Pryor suggested that the state of Pittsburgh’s offensive line might have also factored into the decision, as the unit struggled in the preseason and is dealing with the absence of LG Isaac Seumalo. Wilson’s mobility is limited by his calf injury, and combined with a questionable offensive front, that could have posed a major concern.

Wilson has been battling a balky calf since the start of training camp, which allowed Fields to get plenty of work with the first team during the summer. Fields gained support in the organization with his performance in practice and the preseason, and he closed the gap on his veteran competition, who was long said to be in “pole position” for the starting gig. Ultimately, head coach Mike Tomlin elected to go with Wilson’s more experienced hand, though Fields will now have a chance to seize the job.

Of course, Fields’ performance today and Wilson’s health status will go a long way towards determing their immediate futures. And, since both players are on low-cost deals that expire at season’s end, and since the team is not deviating from its policy of not negotiating extensions in-season, their long-term earning power also hangs in the balance. Fields, 25, is 10 years younger than Wilson and has a longtime fan in Tomlin, and after he failed to develop into the franchise quarterback the Bears envisioned when they made him the No. 11 overall pick of the 2021 draft, he has a second bite at the apple in Pittsburgh.

Wilson is the emergency third QB for the Atlanta contest, meaning he can only enter the game if Fields and backup Kyle Allen sustain injuries.

QB Russell Wilson Uncertain For Week 1

September 6th, 2024 at 9:59pm CST by Adam La Rose

A calf strain cost Russell Wilson time during training camp, and it is now threatening to delay his regular season Steelers debut. Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback was limited in practice on Friday and a decision on his status may not be made until game time.

Wilson aggravated the issue on Thursday, and his lack of participation today was aimed at recovering in time for Week 1. The Steelers are set to play the Falcons on Sunday in the first game since he was tapped as Pittsburgh’s starter under center. No firm decision has been made yet on the 35-year-old’s availability, and the progress he makes in recovering over the weekend will be key.

“I just felt a little tight,” Wilson said (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor). “I just wanted to be smart about it. Obviously we play the game on Sunday. I’m hoping I get to be in it, obviously, but just trying to get ready to go… I think the most important thing is just tons of treatment and getting ready to see what I can do each day and take [it] day by day.”

With Wilson sidelined for a period during the summer, Justin Fields took first-team reps. That remained the case this week once the former Super Bowl winner encountered his latest issue. Fields gained support in the organization with his performance in camp and the preseason, but it ultimately came as no surprise when head coach Mike Tomlin elected to go with Wilson after he spent the build-up to the campaign in pole position for the QB1 gig.

Of course, many have floated the possibility of Fields taking over from Wilson at some point during the season. Wilson struggled during his Broncos tenure, and the nine-time Pro Bowler was released despite that move creating a record-breaking $85MM dead cap charge. He signed a one-year deal aimed at allowing him to rebuild his value on the open market or showing his viability for a longer Pittsburgh tenure.

Fields is in a similar situation after he was traded to the Steelers shortly after the Wilson signing. The former first-rounder did not live up to expectations in Chicago, but Pittsburgh could represent another opportunity for a first-team gig. No in-season negotiations will take place with either passer, and their respective showings will determine whether or not another organizational reset at the position will be needed in 2025.

Pittsburgh’s final injury report lists Wilson as questionable for Sunday, and his status will be worth watching over the coming days. If he is unable to play, Fields will start with Kyle Allen serving as the backup.

Steelers Name Russell Wilson QB Starter

August 28th, 2024 at 11:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

Russell Wilson faced a challenge from his pole-position spot, but the veteran will hold off Justin Fields. The Steelers will go with the 13th-year passer to open the season, Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer reports. The Steelers have since announced it will be Wilson in Week 1.

The Steelers went to some lengths to assure Wilson he would be the starter. This was communicated to the decorated veteran before the Kenny Pickett trade and then after the team acquired Fields. While the latter has made a push that indicates this situation is not resolved from a long-term perspective, Fields will begin his Pittsburgh tenure as a backup.

Fields was believed to have supporters in the building, as the Steelers went about adjusting his footwork from his Bears days. Rather than name a starter before the third preseason game, Mike Tomlin waited until midway through the Steelers’ final week of summer workouts. This does not suggest Wilson will have a firm grip here, despite the early-offseason buzz about this job, but the 35-year-old passer will soon make his 189th career start.

Despite Fields closing the gap, the 25-year-old trade acquisition never emerged as a frontrunner. The Steelers may have been more inclined, after seeing Pickett stumble, to go with a more experienced option early. After trading Pickett, Pittsburgh signed off on a unique arrangement. Wilson and Fields are on low-cost deals that expire at season’s end. The team is not deviating from its policy of not negotiating extensions in-season, and no talks are planned to commence before the campaign. Both passers will head into contract years, and although reports about the Steelers eyeing a post-2024 future with both have come out, this Wilson-Fields setup will almost certainly be a one-and-done situation.

Calling this a “difficult decision,” Tomlin communicated it to both QBs today. This was Wilson’s first time in a quarterback competition since his rookie year, when he beat out Matt Flynn for the Seahawks’ job. The potential Hall of Famer held it for 10 years, but the Seahawks — after Wilson’s first injury-related absence came during a season that brought a step back from his Pro Bowl-level form — dealt his $35MM-per-year contract to the Broncos for an eight-asset package in March 2022. Wilson then signed a $49MM-AAV deal with Denver, going through an infamous tenure with the AFC West franchise.

Wilson’s Broncos run can be classified as a financial disaster, and while Sean Payton made it clear his fit with the off-script maven was poor, the 2023 season went much better for the former third-round pick compared to the shocking 2022 outcome.

Wilson rebounded from his rough season with Nathaniel Hackett, a campaign in which the Broncos allowed the QB to help design the offense and then gave him other perks, by throwing 26 touchdown passes compared to just eight interceptions with Payton at the controls. This still produced a late-season benching — after a behind-the-scenes drama unfolded regarding Wilson’s 2025 guarantee vesting date — but Wilson did show some better form, helping the Broncos to a five-game win streak that moved them into the playoff chase.

Denver took on a record-smashing dead money sum to separate from the embattled quarterback; regardless of offset language, Denver’s cap penalty over the next two years more than doubles any other single-player number. The Steelers swooped in an have the accomplished passer on a one-year, $1.21MM deal. But Wilson, who battled injuries in 2022 to contribute to his stunning regression, missed multiple weeks of training camp with a calf injury and only recently received full clearance. This allowed Fields to catch up a bit, and this situation will be one to monitor early in the season.

In the preseason, Fields went 19-for-27 for 199 yards. Playing in two preseason games, Wilson was 10 of 12 for 73 yards. Both struggled to move the offense in Pittsburgh’s second preseason game, but Wilson led a TD drive in the team’s finale. Fields did not lead any scoring drives against Detroit this past weekend. Fields probably offers more upside at this point, as Wilson will turn 36 in November, but the veteran brings a higher floor.

The Steelers will aim to pair Wilson with a veteran-laden defense, and it remains to be seen if the team will pry Brandon Aiyuk from the 49ers. Though, that scenario appears a longshot right now.

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