The Pittsburgh Steelers' second day of practice in Latrobe on Friday saw fans hoping to catch a glimpse of new quarterback Russell Wilson with the first team. However, they were disappointed as Wilson was held out for the second practice in a row. This gave quarterback Justin Fields another opportunity to take first-team reps.
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Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson prepares to make a throw as the team practices during offseason activities at the UPMC Sports Complex in Pittsburgh, PA.
Wilson joined the Steelers after two challenging seasons with the Denver Broncos. Pundits have mixed opinions about what he can bring to Pittsburgh. While he struggled during his first season with the Broncos, Wilson threw for 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2023. Despite his efforts, Denver struggled to win games, though not all the blame lies with him.
As Wilson is considered the frontrunner to be the starting quarterback, it's crucial for him not to lose ground in the competition. Much has been made this offseason about the potential quarterback battle between Wilson and Fields. Many expect Wilson to start in Week 1 regardless of Fields' performance, but some believe Fields could be gaining ground.
According to ESPN's Brooke Pryor, Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin addressed Wilson's absence, downplaying the severity of his injury and stating that Wilson is being held out as a precaution.
Mike Tomlin says there weren’t any setbacks with Russell Wilson’s calf injury, he just wanted “to keep a minor thing from becoming major.”
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) July 26, 2024
Wilson spoke after practice according to Brian Batko. Had the Steelers been playing a regular season game, it's no doubt Wilson would have been on the field for the match, but he was held out once again by Tomlin.
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
Wilson admitted he's facing some adversity and wanted to practice Friday, but Tomlin advised him to be patient, noting they have plenty of time. The Steelers' coaching staff appears committed to ensuring Wilson is 100% healthy for the regular season and is not taking any risks.
Fields and Wilson are in similar situations but under different circumstances. Wilson built his career over a decade with the Seattle Seahawks, winning a Super Bowl and making nine Pro Bowl appearances. At 35, there are concerns about what he has left, but Pittsburgh seems excited and comfortable with him as their starter.
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Steelers QB's Justin Fields and Russell Wilson look on during practice.
Fields walked into the NFL with high expectations being a first-round pick. He showed some promising moments but also struggled at times. It's unclear how serious the quarterback competition will be. While Fields will have a chance, it seems unlikely he will beat out Wilson for the Week 1 starting job. However, some pundits caution that Wilson can't afford to miss practice if possible. Although Wilson wants to be on the field, he hasn't been cleared to practice by the coaching staff.
Steelers fans are eager to see Wilson practice and take first-team reps. There is no set timeline for his return, but there is also no rush. The Steelers seem confident in Wilson and his abilities and are not concerned about rushing him back.
Steelers' Justin Fields Had An Up And Down Day 2 Of Training Camp
Fields had some struggles on Friday during the seven shots drill but also made some impressive throws later in the practice. Fields went just one of five during the seven-shots drill.
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Steelers' Justin Fields throwing the football during OTAs.
The quarterback battle is gaining momentum, and getting Wilson back to practice is the next concern. Watching Wilson and Fields compete for the starting job all offseason is going to be exciting for Steelers fans.
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