Russell Wilson Tweaked Calf During Conditioning Test, Expects Quick Return

UNITY TWP., Pa. — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson said after Friday’s practice that the calf injury that sidelined him for the first two practices occurred during the team’s run test on Wednesday, when he was pushing a sled.

“Just working hard, and sometimes things happen,” he said. “The good news is that I feel good. We’ll get there in time. The good thing is that I’m getting a lot of mental reps and throwing stuff on the side and the post-practice, as well.”

Russell Wilson added that if it were up to him, he’d have been practicing the last two days. He doesn’t expect to miss much more time with the calf injury and said that Mike Tomlin and the trainers are just being cautious.

“We’re not trying to rush it,” Wilson said. “I say we got 20-21 games to play. Someone said we gotta have you for 17. I’m thinking 21, possibly 20, hopefully. First place. That’s just got to be the mentality you have.”

Tomlin said after practice on Thursday that he wanted to create a little short-term misery for Wilson and the offense.

“Yeah, I hate not practicing,” Wilson said. “(Tomlin) was laughing, ‘I enjoy this, you got to wait a second and all that.’ It was funny. I think coach and the trainers are being super careful so nothing happens.”

Russell Wilson was expected to have an MRI on Thursday, a team source told Steelers Now. Like he did on Thursday, Wilson threw to receivers after practice.

For the second day in a row, Justin Fields received first-team reps.

“Yeah, he’s done a really good job,” Wilson said of Fields. “Every play he’s going against a really great defense. Every day he’s making some really great plays. Plays that he responds back to, and this and that. That’s a part of practice. He’s a really good competitor, he processes well. He’s a tremendous young talent, for sure.”

STEELERS INJURY REPORT

Alan Saunders contributed reporting from Unity Twp.