Should fans worry about Russell Wilson’s missed practices?
Having brought in Russell Wilson from the Denver Broncos in March, Mike Tomlin must have hoped to have had him available, fit, and ready for the new season. However, it appears a troublesome calf injury may hold things up a tad, although Tomlin is not overly concerned about the situation the Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves in.
The veteran quarterback, who won the Super Bowl during his successful stint with the Seattle Seahawks, endured a mixed time with the Denver Broncos and is looking to return to his winning ways in Pittsburgh. This injury cropping up during the start of camp would appear to be a setback that Wilson cannot afford as the Steelers’ backup quarterback is former Bears starter and first-round pick, Justin Fields.
With Fields taking the first team reps through the first week of training camp and remaining the “QB1” through the start of the second week, Wilson may lose ground in what was firmly his job from the onset of offseason activities. The more we see of Fields, the more a quarterback controversy begins to brew.
Such a controversy could create competition, but it could also create dissension in the ranks: something the Steelers are all too familiar with after cycling through three different starting quarterbacks last season. This also makes Steelers fans discontent, as those who want to back their team with a wager may find it difficult. However, fans can make good use of the insights and offers related to Pennsylvania sports betting providers before doing so, thereby most likely maximizing the potential payout they may earn themselves.
Tomlin brought in Fields in the offseason from the Chicago Bears after moving on from 2022 first-round draft pick Kenny Pickett. The 25-year-old Fields is considered by many to have been misused during his time with the Bears and could have untapped potential. If Wilson remains sidelined for an extended period, Fields may well be the starting quarterback once the season gets underway.
However, talk of injury concerns doesn’t worry Tomlin, who has been in charge of the franchise since 2007. Tomlin insists that moves to ease Wilson back from his injury are “to keep a minor thing from becoming major.” Wilson also noted how he got hurt, which appeared awkward to outsiders:
“You know, we were doing a sled push thing and just tweaked it a little bit. So, you know, just working hard, and sometimes things happen. But the good news is that I feel good. And we’ll get there. The good thing is I’m getting a lot of the mental reps and throwing stuff on the side and, and the post practice and all that as well.”
For those wondering why a 35-year-old veteran was pushing a sled, join the crowd. It speaks to Wilson’s competitiveness as well as his dedication to rehab his image of being a diva as well as building a rapport with teammates. While being sidelined, Wilson also observed his colleagues and praised Fields’s play:
“He’s done a good job. Every play, he’s going against some really good defense. So, every day there’s some really great plays and plays he responds back to and this and that. So it’s just, that’s the part of practice and he’s doing a good job. He’s a really good competitor. He processes as well, and he’s a tremendous young talent for sure.”
Despite the injury causing Wilson to mostly participate in only individual drills on a limited basis, he feels as if he could jump in and start if there was a game this week:
“Yeah, I want to get back today yesterday you know, but Coach [Mike Tomlin] said, ‘Listen, we got we got time here.’ I got a lot of reps in the offseason, we’re not just trying to rush it we got in. I said we’ve got21 games to play. You know, somebody said we’ve got to have you for 17th, I’m thinking 21 or possibly 20. Hopefully in first place. But that’s just got to be the mentality you have and so I’m excited to get to work every day. The guys are doing a tremendous job of learning and studying all the bonding we’re doing. We were sitting out on the on the porch last night just talking, having fun. Those are the kind of moments that you cherish and I’ll be back sooner than later.”
21 games is some big talk for a team that Coach Tomlin last led a Super Bowl title in 2009. Two seasons later, Tomlin reached the Super Bowl again, but it’s been a tough road in the postseason since. The Steelers have won AFC North four times since their last Super Bowl appearance but have undoubtedly struggled to make an impact in the postseason, losing their last five playoff games including most recently, to the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card game last season.
Wilson could be the key to Tomlin breaking his bad luck streak in the playoffs. At least for now, Steelers Nation must be patient to see if the former Pro Bowl quarterback can get back to practicing full time before determining if he can return himself, and his new franchise, back into contenders.
For now, it would appear all that a small calf injury is doing is limiting days Wilson may take veteran breaks, and giving Fields – who is still a young quarterback – more time to develop.
