Steelers QB Russell Wilson Listed as Questionable, Wants to Play vs Falcons

PITTSBURGH — After injuring his calf in training camp, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson went through a painstakingly long period of ramping back up to full activity throughout training camp.

Wilson injured his calf on July 24. In the next two weeks, he threw exactly one pass in a team practice setting. It wasn’t until Aug. 11 that he started to practice with the team in earnest, and he didn’t play in game until Aug. 17.

Wilson aggravated the injury in practice on Thursday, once again feeling tightness in his right calf. He left practice and went to get checked out, turning things over to Justin Fields.

“I didn’t really know what happened, to be honest, at first,” Fields said. “But we were just doing indy and he just said he felt some tightness.”

The results of the medical testing revealed no further significant damage to the right calf that has now been acting up for six weeks. But the reoccurrence certainly has put Wilson’s status for the Steelers’ season opener against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday in jeopardy.

“I just felt a little tight and I wanted to be smart about it. Obviously, we play a game on Sunday and I’m hoping I get to be in. … I’m trying to get my body ready to go and rock and roll. We’re doing everything we can.”

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks Justin Fields and Russell Wilson at practice on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

Wilson said that the injury hasn’t been bothering him of late. He played in the team’s final two preseason games without any obvious limitations. To him, Thursday’s discomfort came out of nowhere.

“You hate these nagging things,” he said. “I’ve been feeling great the last few weeks. I’ve been feeling really good. Just kind of felt a little funny (Thursday).”

Wilson said he didn’t do much at practice on Friday, but didn’t rule out the idea of him playing, despite a less-than-full practice slate.

“There’s been times where I maybe have been limited in some practices in the past and still played on Sunday,” he said. “I’m not worried about that. …  I’ve just gotta be smart. Obviously, we’re trying to play 20 or 21 games. I’m trying to play in all of them.”

But in order to play, Wilson will now need to condense what was a three-week rehab from the initial injury to his first game to a three-day one this time around. Wilson said that he could be a game-time decision on Sunday in Atlanta, and his questionable designation from the team does leave that door open, but it seems unlikely that Wilson will be able to get to full health by 1 p.m. on Sunday.