Russell Wilson misses first Steelers practice with calf strain, Justin Fields takes first-team reps
The Russell Wilson era with the Steelers is getting off to a painful start. Coach Mike Tomlin announced Thursday that the team’s new quarterback is dealing with a calf injury.
It’s unclear when he suffered the injury. Tomlin said he woke up with the issue. Players reported Wednesday to Latrobe, Pa. The Steelers practiced for the first time on Thursday morning.
Tomlin said that Wilson’s status is “day to day.” Justin Fields is now receiving Wilson’s reps with the first team. With Fields with the first-team, Wilson wore a ball cap and watched from the sidelines.
Wilson is 35, so nagging injuries can happen. He talked at length on Wednesday when he reported to Steelers camp. One of the topics involved the goals Wilson set for himself.
“Internally, your expectations for yourself have to be higher than everyone else’s,” Wilson told reporters. “I remember when I was a rookie, I was a third-round pick, the 75th pick overall. I was the third-string quarterback on the roster. (And) I was determined I was going to take that job. That’s got to be the mentality every day. That’s the mentality every day. Try to be your best. God has given me a ton of talent. Anyone that’s here staying in those dorms has a ton of talent. How do we make the most of that? You do it with great confidence and composure and an edge when you play.”
Also on Wednesday, Tomlin said the quarterback depth chart remained status quo. Wilson was first team followed by Fields. Obviously, that’s changed.
When asked about how he’d divide the practice reps, Tomlin said “Very carefully.
“You think I’m actually going to back myself into a corner so you guys are gonna ask me daily about the rep allocations? No way. I’ve been on the job too long for that.”
Wilson signed with the Steelers back in March as the team revamped the quarterback depth chart. Fields followed (via trade) days later. Pittsburgh also traded Kenny Pickett, the previous starter, to the Eagles. They didn’t sign Mason Rudolph or Mitch Trubisky. They signed rookie free agent John Rhys Plumlee after the draft then added veteran Kyle Allen.
The Steelers worked out former Dallas Cowboys reserve quarterback Ben DiNucci earlier this week. But there was no announcement as to whether the team signed him.