Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson, after winning the starting role over Justin Fields this summer, is once again dealing with a calf injury. The tightness in his calf limited his participation in Thursday’s practice, raising concerns about his availability for the Week 1 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. This is the same injury that sidelined Wilson for a significant portion of training camp.
As reported by ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, Wilson’s calf tightened during practice, prompting the team to proceed cautiously. Head Coach Mike Tomlin confirmed the injury, stating, “His calf got tight, so we wanted to exercise some precaution. We’ll see what tomorrow looks like and kind of go from there.” Wilson’s scheduled Thursday press conference was postponed, and he is expected to address the media on Friday.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson
This calf issue initially surfaced during the team’s conditioning test prior to the start of training camp, preventing Wilson from throwing a pass in practice for 10 days. He eventually returned to full participation by the end of camp, solidifying his position as the starting quarterback. After playing in the final two preseason games, Wilson expressed confidence in his physical condition.
Despite the setback, the Steelers remain confident in backup quarterback Justin Fields should Wilson be unable to play. Tomlin emphasized that the game plan will remain unchanged regardless of who starts under center. “It really doesn’t [affect game-planning] at all, to be honest with you,” Tomlin stated. “I’m extremely comfortable if that is the case, certainly.”
Fields has received ample practice time with the first-team offense due to Wilson’s earlier injury. While this is not the ideal start to the 2024 season, it highlights the importance of having two capable quarterbacks on the roster. The Steelers are hopeful Wilson will recover in time for Week 1, but Fields’ preparedness provides a crucial safety net.
