Russell Wilson missed the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ preseason opener against the Houston Texans due to a strained calf. The veteran quarterback is being eased back into action, and he participated in Thursday’s joint practice with the Buffalo Bills.
Mike Tomlin’s team started with Justin Fields in the game against the Texans, who eventually won 20-12.
Will Wilson be playing for the Steelers this week against the Bills?
Will Russell Wilson Take Snaps Against the Buffalo Bills?
With Pittsburgh focusing on getting its quarterback back to full health, fans had anticipated they’d have to wait a bit longer to see Wilson in game action.
However, that’s not the case, as Wilson is set to make his Steelers debut against the Bills on Saturday.
This will be the 35-year-old’s first game action since recovering from a calf injury on July 24. After sitting out the Steelers’ preseason opener, head coach Mike Tomlin confirmed that Wilson will play approximately four series in the upcoming matchup.
Wilson, who signed a one-year deal with the Steelers after the Denver Broncos released him, is expected to answer Pittsburgh’s woes in the regular season. In 2023, Wilson posted a 66.4% completion rate while recording 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.
Despite a tough time in Denver, where he was sacked a league-high 55 times, Wilson’s pedigree as a nine-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion still stands. That is a key reason why the Steelers invested in the veteran.
The game against the Bills will be an initial test for Wilson, who’ll try and assert his dominance over the starter role and silence any lingering quarterback competition talk.
Mike Tomlin Tight-Lipped Over Justin Fields
Tomlin didn’t say much about Fields in the first preseason game against the Texans. While Tomlin has confirmed that starters (including Fields) will play four series, he didn’t give specifics, stating that nothing is “etched in stone.”
Fields continued to impress during training camp in Thursday’s joint practice with the Bills.
Tomlin, who has long emphasized the importance of a dynamic quarterback as the NFL standard, praised Fields for his natural instincts, saying:
“I’ve been really pleased with what I’ve seen in that regard. It’s our job to properly direct it and make sure that it’s an asset to him and us. That’s the mentality that we all have. It’s been good thus far. I’m not going to overmanage or micromanage it.”
As for the joint practice, Tomlin had nothing but praise for Bills coach Sean McDermott, his former college teammate at William & Mary. He highlighted the valuable experience gained from facing a 4-3 defense like Buffalo’s.
