The Pittsburgh Steelers will look to get back on the winning track in a Week 5 game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night, and they will likely do so without Russell Wilson once again.
Wilson, who was named the starter before the beginning of the season, has missed the first four games of the 2024 campaign due to a calf injury. He originally injured it in training camp, and then re-injured it prior to Week 1.
In Wilson's absence, quarterback Justin Fields has gotten the ball and the Steelers are off to a 3-1 start with him under center. That has led many to believe that Wilson may not get his job back when healthy.
A report from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport last week stated that Wilson was expected to be fully healthy this week, but it appears that is not the case, at least according to the team's injury report.
Russell Wilson injury update
UPDATE: The Steelers have released their Week 5 inactives list, and as expected, Wilson is on it, meaning he'll serve as the emergency third quarterback once again and Fields will get his fifth start.
Steelers' Week 5 Inactive Players
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) October 6, 2024
QB Russell Wilson (3rd QB)
TE MyCole Pruitt
OLB Alex Highsmith
RB Jaylen Warren
RB Cordarrelle Patterson
WR Roman Wilson
G Max Scharping#Steelers #NFL
According to the team's Week 5 injury report, Wilson is questionable to play due to his calf injury. The veteran signal-caller did not log a full practice the entire week, although he did appear to do a bit more.
"Quarterback Russell Wilson remained limited but confirmed that he started taking reps in 11-on-11 team drills and some limited 7-on-7 work, so he continues to ramp up his participation," Nick Farabaugh of PennLive.com wrote Thursday.
“We’re listening to the doctors, listening to coach and just trying to make sure that they’re good and I’m good,” the Steelers quarterback said. “I feel strong, you know, I feel confident. I love the process that we’ve (had) in just in terms of just making sure that I’m really ready to go. And, you know, I feel like I’m right there.”
On Saturday, Wilson posted a video of himself using an anti-gravity treadmill, so take that for what it's worth.
Russell Wilson posted a clip of his rehab to his instagram story earlier today.
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) October 6, 2024
Looks like he’s using an anti-gravity treadmill — which reduces the weight-bearing load on his calf — as part of his recovery. pic.twitter.com/9XuJGf5unx
Will Russell Wilson play in Week 5?
Despite Wilson ramping up a bit, he was limited in all three practices and draws a questionable tag. We've seen the same story every week so far this season, and each time it has led to Wilson being inactive.
Expect the same this week.
