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Brooke Pryor, ESPN Staff WriterSep 10, 2024, 12:34 PM ET
- Previously covered the Kansas City Chiefs for the Kansas City Star and Oklahoma University for the Oklahoman.
PITTSBURGH — With an aggravated calf injury continuing to limit Russell Wilson, the Steelers are preparing for quarterback Justin Fields to start against the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
“As I sit here today, we’re preparing as if Justin is going to be our quarterback,” coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday. “I think that’s the appropriate way to do it. Speculation is a waste of time. Russell’s hurt. He is not available to us. And so, as you guys know, as a general practice, I focus my energy on those that are available and their readiness.”
Wilson will not participate fully in Wednesday’s practice, Tomlin added, and the team will meet with doctors afterward to determine a plan for his inclusion the rest of the week. Though Tomlin typically doesn’t use players on Sundays if they don’t practice on Fridays, he allowed there’s some leeway in availability for veterans such as Wilson.
“Young players have to practice on Friday,” Tomlin said. “The older you are, the less significant that is. I treat everybody fair. I don’t treat everybody the same.”
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Asked specifically whether Wilson would start Sunday if he’s healthy, Tomlin declined to give a definitive answer.
“That’s a big if,” Tomlin said. “I’m not into the hypotheticals. As I mentioned, right now, he’s not healthy. And so my time and attention is focusing on the readiness of Justin.”
Wilson was still listed as the starting quarterback ahead of Fields on the team’s updated depth chart. Asked specifically if Wilson was still the starting quarterback when healthy, Tomlin downplayed the question.
“I’m not going to soothe you with hypothetical scenarios,” Tomlin said. “It is my general practice to not. … So why start today? Because it’s the quarterback position or because it’s a national story? I am unmoved by some of those narratives, to be quite honest with you.
“… When people are somewhat limited, I say we’ll push through our work week. We’ll let their participation be our guide in terms of whether we include ’em and then the quality of that participation. This scenario is no different for me. … Our energies and attention are on those that are available and are scheduled to play. They’re deserving of that. When those that are not are healthy, we’ll ponder it at that time.”
Though his first snap was a fumbled exchange with rookie center Zach Frazier, Fields played turnover-free football in his first regular-season start as a Steeler, completing 17 of 23 attempts for 156 yards with two sacks and rushing 14 times for 57 yards in the win over the Atlanta Falcons.
“He settled in as the game progressed,” Tomlin said. “I thought he had clear eyes and weighty moments. I thought he was a good communicator in some of those moments where we had some discussion. … It’s just really good things to build upon.”
Wilson tested out his calf through a series of throws more than two and a half hours before Sunday’s game in Atlanta before telling Fields he would start. Wilson was then inactive and served as the emergency third quarterback.
Wilson spent two seasons with the Broncos before he was released and signed with the Steelers, but his experience with Denver isn’t necessarily an added asset for the Steelers, especially if he’s inactive for the second week in a row.
“Sometimes that’s overblown,” Tomlin said. “If he’s on the sideline, he’s not making plays. The guys on the field are the guys that got to make the plays and that’s generally our mentality. We’re not resistant to help, but we are not going to put it on a pedestal and make it appear to be more than what it is.”
