Coach Mike Tomlin said on Thursday that quarterback Russell Wilson will start for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday in their preseason game against the Buffalo Bills.
Tomlin stated that Wilson, who missed Pittsburgh’s opening preseason game due to a calf issue, will play four series in the exhibition. Wilson’s participation in the early stages of training camp was significantly restricted after he suffered a calf injury while pushing a sled on July 24 during the team’s conditioning test.
Wilson was restricted, thus Justin Fields performed most of the camp’s first-team reps. Tomlin maintained Wilson’s position as the starting quarterback ahead of the opening preseason game, but he also emphasized that Wilson and Fields are in a race.
Wilson is expected to start for the Steelers in both this preseason game and Week 1 as all indications have been for months.
Soon after the veteran quarterback was acquired, Tomlin said Wilson had “pole position.” Tomlin has also discussed how Fields can benefit from learning from Wilson. And even after Wilson was significantly limited during the early parts of training camp, he maintained QB1 status when the first depth chart was released ahead of the first preseason game, and again when the depth chart was updated ahead of the second preseason game.
Reading between the lines at QB
All of those statements and deeds would seem to suggest that Wilson had not only “pole position,” but also a significant advantage over Fields because of his leadership abilities and seasoned expertise. It should come as no surprise that Wilson will start against the Buffalo Bills now that he is healthy.
The true question is whether he takes advantage of this to silence the conversation of a quarterback competition or if he allows room for Fields.
Wilson just finished a productive training camp week in which he increasingly accepted first-tWilson just finished a productive training camp week in which he increasingly accepted first-team reps. But Tomlin has stated that “in-stadium” experiences are more important to him, thus Saturday might be important in deciding the QB competition.eam reps. But Tomlin has stated that “in-stadium” experiences are more important to him, thus Saturday might be important in deciding the QB competition.
(Photo: Justin Berl / Getty Images)
