The Pittsburgh Steelers once again did not have their projected starting quarterback on the practice field on Friday, as veteran signal-caller Russell Wilson sat out again due to injury.
According to head coach Mike Tomlin, Wilson is dealing with calf tightness he woke up with on Thursday morning ahead of the team's first practice of training camp and is being kept out as a precaution.
"Russ woke up today and his calf was tight," Tomlin said. "It was my decision to sit him down today and create a little short-term discomfort for him, not allowing the small problem to become a bigger problem. He could be characterized as day-to-day. But on the flip side of that it was an awesome opportunity for Justin (Fields) and the challenge for our offense as a unit to deal with a little adversity at the outset."
Echoing that, Wilson said after practice that if it was a game, he would have played and that the injury isn't going to be a big issue. He did not provide a timetable for his return but reiterated that he and the team are just being careful.
Russell Wilson talking after Steelers practice says if they had a game he could play, but obviously they’re being safe the first couple days of camp with his sore calf.
— Brian Batko (@BrianBatko) July 26, 2024
“Just being super careful so nothing gets worse,” Russell Wilson says of how coaches and trainers are approaching his calf issue.
— Brian Batko (@BrianBatko) July 26, 2024
Wilson also revealed that he injured his calf during the team's conditioning test on Wednesday when he was pushing a sled.
QB Russell Wilson said he injured his calf after pushing the sled during the Steelers' new conditioning test on Wednesday. Mike Tomlin made the decision to keep him out the last two practices in an abundance of caution.
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) July 26, 2024
In Wilson's absence, the Steelers have deployed Justin Fields with the first-team offense, as expected. And, by all accounts, Fields has made the most of his opportunity with a strong showing over the first two days.
While that's all well and good, it's going to take a lot more than two good camp practices for Fields to supplant Wilson, who Tomlin noted in March is in the "pole position" before reiterating going into training camp that nothing has changed.
