The Pittsburgh Steelers are keeping a close eye on veteran quarterback Russell Wilson as he continues to recover from a lingering calf injury that has sidelined him since training camp. On Thursday, Wilson gave an optimistic update, stating that he’s “getting closer and closer” to making a return to the field but remained non-committal about his status for Sunday’s matchup against his former team, the Denver Broncos.
Wilson, who missed the Steelers’ Week 1 victory against the Atlanta Falcons, has been limited in practice this week. When asked about his chances of suiting up for the upcoming game, Wilson played it close to the vest.
“I’m just trying to be smart,” Wilson said, via ESPN.com. “Got to do a lot of work today on the field and everything else, throwing and all that, so just trying to be smart.”
Setback Slows Wilson’s Progress
The calf injury has been a nagging issue for Wilson since the preseason, forcing him to miss valuable time on the field. He originally suffered what he described as a “pretty strong, pretty good calf injury,” which flared up again during his attempts to warm up before last week’s opener. After evaluating the situation with head coach Mike Tomlin, the decision was made to hold him out as a precaution.
“So that was disappointing,” Wilson admitted. “We worked our butts off every day in the training room… but when I tweaked it again, we had to be smart here and not push it too bad.”
While Wilson has expressed his eagerness to return, he emphasized the importance of patience and making a full recovery before taking the field again.
Justin Fields Steps In, But Steelers Struggle in Red Zone
In Wilson’s absence, backup quarterback Justin Fields started against the Falcons, leading the Steelers to six scoring drives, but all ended in field goals. Fields completed 17 of 23 passes for 156 yards and added 57 rushing yards, but the Steelers struggled in the red zone, failing to capitalize on key opportunities. A turnover on downs at the Atlanta 6-yard line in the fourth quarter underscored the team’s red zone woes, leaving questions about their ability to finish drives.
Wilson, who served as the emergency third quarterback last week, acknowledged his desire to return but reiterated that he must be careful not to rush back prematurely.
“Anybody who knows me, I always want to go and play… but at the end of the day, you got to play dinged-up sometimes,” Wilson said. “I think Coach Tomlin and the trainers just want to be smart because it’s early in the season.”
A Potential Return Against a Familiar Foe
If Wilson is unable to go this Sunday, the Steelers may once again lean on Fields. However, Wilson hinted that he could still play a valuable role, offering insights into the Broncos — the team he spent the last two seasons with before joining Pittsburgh.
“I got some insight for sure,” Wilson teased, suggesting he could offer the Steelers a competitive advantage in preparing for the Broncos.
As the Steelers prepare for a crucial early-season matchup, all eyes will be on Wilson’s recovery. Whether he takes the field or continues to recover, his status will be a key storyline leading into Sunday’s game.
