PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson took a significant step toward a return this week as he’s been a full participant at practice for the first time since re-injuring his calf ahead of Week 1.
But the question is, what will his role be on Sunday when the Steelers visit the Las Vegas Raiders?
“That’s a big question,” Wilson said with a smile Thursday. “For me, I’m preparing my mind to get ready to go and everything else. That’s kind of my mentality, to help us win, whatever that is. I’m just getting ready for Friday (at practice).”
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin named Wilson his starter following a so-called camp competition with Justin Fields. However, when Wilson aggravated the calf injury — which he initially sustained in training camp — before the regular-season opener, Pittsburgh pivoted.
In Wilson’s absence, Fields has played some of the best football of his career. His passer rating (97.1) and completion percentage (67.6) are both well above anything he produced in Chicago, and he’s thrown just one interception in five games. He’s also coming off his least consistent performance in a Steelers uniform, completing 15 of 27 passes (a season-low 55.6 percent) for 131 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
To this point, any QB decision has largely been taken out of Tomlin’s hands because Wilson has not been healthy enough to be part of the conversation. Slowly, that’s changing.
Tomlin said this week that Wilson will be working with the second-team offense so as to not interfere with Fields’ preparation. The coach said that the door is at least “ajar” for Wilson to be active for the first time this season on Sunday. Wilson would almost certainly be the backup to Fields in the event he’s active, at least for this week.
“I feel confident that I’d be ready to play and ready to play at a high level,” Wilson said. “I think we’re being really smart, too, and trying to understand how it feels. It’s my first week really back with the guys. I feel really confident about that. The ball is spinning. That’s a good thing. I have not a doubt in my mind once I step between the white lines, I’ll be ready to go.”
Calf injuries are challenging for quarterbacks, who need to use the muscle to bounce around the pocket and drive the ball to receivers. Tomlin said this week he wanted to make sure Wilson was capable of executing all of the offensive scheme, which would include the read-option and any bootlegs. Those elements of the offense were taken out when Wilson returned initially from his training camp injury to play in the second preseason game.
“Until Russ gets to a point where we’re comfortable with what we’re looking at, he’s able to execute all schematics, he’s able to put together back-to-back consecutive days and so forth, I just think that’s a hypothetical conversation,” Tomlin said when asked on Tuesday about Wilson being available.
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Wilson said on Thursday that he’s continually ramped up his activity. His mobility is one of the most significant factors in any discussion about his potential availability.
“I think the biggest thing to be honest with you guys is just being able to run well and move around well,” Wilson said. “I feel like I’ve been able to do that this week. I’ve started to run the last week or so. Really the past couple weeks almost. A little bit by little bit every day, trying to be smart about it. Really let everything heal and do all that.
“I got to be able to move around a little bit today, which I felt really confident in. That was great to feel and know.”
Wilson wasn’t active the first five weeks, but he was still in uniform as the emergency third quarterback. The veteran QB said that when Fields took a hit and had to leave Sunday’s game for a couple of plays, it was another reminder to always be ready.
“The biggest thing is being ready, having your helmet ready at all costs,” Wilson said. “Obviously when Justin got in the game last game, Kyle (Allen) immediately zipped up his helmet. I had to run and get mine and go get my shoulder loose. I wasn’t expecting it.
“I think that was a good moment for us in the quarterback room. We’re always prepared. I think that’s always got to be the mentality.”
Should Wilson suit up on Sunday, he would be one play away from his Steelers regular-season debut.
(Photo: Barry Reeger / Imagn Images)
