LATROBE, Pa. — For the second consecutive day, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson was limited as he continues to recover from what the team is calling “calf tightness.” Speaking for the first time about the injury, the presumptive starter said Friday that he was pushing a sled during Wednesday’s conditioning test when he “tweaked it a little bit.”
“We’re just working hard and sometimes things happen,” Wilson said. “The good thing is that I feel good. We’ll get there with time.”
Wilson said that the injury is “nothing to be too worried about.” Had Friday been Week 1 of the regular season and not the second day of an unpadded practice, Wilson said he would have been healthy enough to go.
“It’s great because I get to go through a little adversity and I get to respond to it,” Wilson said. “That’s really the reality. I think for me, I’ve always been able to respond to adversity the right way.”
Russell Wilson, DeMarvin Leal, Beanie Bishop, Payton Wilson, and DeShon Elliott talk to the media after practice on Friday, July 26. @MillerLite pic.twitter.com/p9dtnWdeCy
— Steelers Live (@SteelersLive) July 26, 2024
Throughout his career, Wilson has been rather durable, especially for a mobile quarterback. He played in all 16 games in each of his first nine NFL seasons. Over the last three seasons, he’s missed seven games in total, some with injuries and some due to a coach’s decision in Denver.
Asked if there’s a timeline for his return, Wilson said he’s taking it “day by day.” The Steelers are scheduled to practice Saturday and Sunday without pads. Monday is an off day before the team puts on the pads for the first time Tuesday.
“I wanted to be back today, (actually) yesterday,” Wilson said. “Coach was like, ‘Listen, we’ve got time.’ I got a lot of reps in the offseason. We’re not trying to rush it. I said we’ve got 20-21 games to play. He said we’ve got to have you for 17 games. I’m thinking 21. … That’s got to be the mentality you have.”
Here are some more observations from Day 2 of Steelers training camp.
The 2024 camp debut of Seven Shots
Wilson’s injury once again opened the door for Justin Fields to take the first-team reps at quarterback, including during the camp debut of the popular Seven Shots drill.
The defense won the first round of the ongoing camp competition 4-3. Fields converted one of his five opportunities from the 2-yard line, hitting offseason addition Van Jefferson in the back corner of the end zone.
Here’s the full play-by-play:
• Fields looked for tight end Pat Freiermuth on an out route, but safety DeShon Elliott broke it up. (1-0 defense)
• Off of play action, Fields threw high and through the outstretched hands of Freiermuth. Joey Porter Jr. was in coverage. (2-0 defense)
• Fields found Jefferson in the back corner of the end zone over Porter. (2-1 defense)
• Fields once again targeted Jefferson in the back corner. With undrafted rookie Beanie Bishop in coverage, the ball sailed out of bounds. (3-1 defense)
• Third-string QB Kyle Allen completed a pass at the goal line to tight end MyCole Pruitt. (3-2 defense)
• Allen completed a pass to Roman Wilson. (3-3)
• Fields’ pass was deflected at the line. (Defense wins 4-3)
Fields puts skill set on display
During Seven Shots, the windows are tighter and the game moves faster. While Fields can still improve his accuracy, anticipation and processing time in those situations, he also showed why he was the 11th overall pick a few seasons ago.
On one play, Fields kept the ball himself on a read option. He juked out a second-level defender, drawing a huge reaction from the crowd at Saint Vincent College. Just two seasons ago, Fields was the NFL’s seventh-leading rusher with 1,143 yards on the ground. In game situations, he’ll be able to show off his athleticism in a more dynamic way.
Later in practice, Fields’ arm was on display with several on-target throws downfield. During a team period, he evaded a sack and put the ball in the air for George Pickens to make a play. The third-year receiver elevated over two defensive backs and then took the ball to the house. On another play, Fields hit Freiermuth down the seam. And in a seven-on-seven segment, Fields found Calvin Austin deep, threading the ball between Bishop and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
The silver lining in Wilson’s injury is that it’s giving Fields an extended run with the first-team offense. Perhaps this work will be beneficial as the season continues.
GO DEEPER
Steelers training camp: 10 players with the most to gain, led by Justin Fields
Rookies thrown into the fire early
The Steelers largely broke in their 2023 rookies slowly and situationally. The top three — offensive tackle Broderick Jones, Porter and defensive lineman Keeanu Benton — didn’t earn starting roles until about the midway point of the season, something coach Mike Tomlin said helped them avoid hitting the rookie wall.
This season, based on need and readiness, several rookies should see time earlier.
With Cole Holcomb on the physically unable to perform list, inside linebacker Payton Wilson has been getting plenty of first-team reps in a variety of situations, mostly in sub-packages but also in the base defense.
“I look at myself as a three-down backer,” Wilson said. “Whether it’s third-and-long, third-and-short, first-and-short, first-and-long. I’m willing to fit the run. I’m willing to play the pass. I’m willing to play man, zone. Whatever you need me to do, I’m willing.”
It appears the Steelers will deploy a similar three-man rotation to last year at inside linebacker. In some situations, especially run downs, Patrick Queen and run stuffer Elandon Roberts will be the two inside linebackers. On passing downs, Wilson’s speed and coverage ability could help him earn early playing time in sub-packages.
It will be interesting to watch how the snaps are split up as the season continues. Odds are it will change week to week, depending on how Wilson develops, the opponent and the game plan.
Beanie Bishop begins to stake his claim
While first-round pick Troy Fautanu and second-round pick Zach Frazier still have work to do to crack the starting rotation, the undrafted Bishop has earned his opportunity early.
With Cameron Sutton suspended for the first eight games of the season, the nickel corner position is one of the most glaring holes on the roster and possibly one of the most open camp competitions. Bishop, who led college football in pass breakups and passes defended last season at West Virginia, earning consensus All-America honors, has been the early standout.
“I feel that I had a pretty good OTAs and minicamp,” Bishop said. “I knew I was going to get some reps. This many reps? I wasn’t really sure about that.”
Bishop was in good position to make plays throughout practice. In addition to the aforementioned play during Seven Shots, Bishop had tight coverage on the speedy Austin during a team period to force an incompletion.
When the pads go on, Bishop will be one to watch, as the Steelers rely on their slot corners to blitz and show physicality in the run game in addition to covering. Bishop joked that Tomlin likes to talk about “little angry men” and says he fits into that category.
“I always play with a chip on my shoulder because I was always overlooked and undervalued,” Bishop said. “It’s just one of those things where I have to be able to separate myself from the tall, pretty corners — the guys that just like to cover. I like to cover and make tackles.”
Grayland Arnold and Josiah Scott are the other two candidates vying for playing time in the nickel spot before Sutton returns.
Receiver depth chart update
Could the Steelers still trade for a receiver? If you believe GM Omar Khan, it’s not currently in the cards.
“There’s nothing going on right now. I’ll tell you this: When you have 32 GMs, conversations always happen,” Khan said. “But there’s nothing ongoing right now.”
If the Steelers stand pat, the depth chart is beginning to come into focus. Pickens is clearly the No. 1 target. Behind him, Jefferson and Austin would be the two most likely candidates to claim the No. 2 spot. Once rookie Roman Wilson gets up to speed, he should also be in that conversation.
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(Photo of Justin Fields: Joe Sargent / Getty Images)
