For the second straight day of Pittsburgh Steelers training camp, Russell Wilson was held out with a “calf” injury. Although, according to the Super Bowl champion quarterback, there’s no real cause for concern at this time.
“We were doing a sled push thing and just got a little — tweaked it a little bit,” Wilson told reporters on July 26 (via The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo), revealing the cause of the injury.
“Just working hard and sometimes things happen,” the projected QB1 added. Noting that the “good news is I feel good, and we’ll get there.” Wilson also pointed out that he’s getting “mental reps” right now as he waits on his body to get back to 100 percent.
“Nothing to panic about,” the veteran calmed with a smile. “I hate missing practice. I hate not being out there. [That] has always been a thing for me my whole career… that’s why [I’m] being super intentional — getting all the plays, seeing everything, walking through everything still, doing everything I can even after practice coming out here and getting extra work in, whatever it may be.”
“The great news is that we’ve got a lot of time with the guys during the offseason,” he went on. “So, I feel really confident with the guys that we have and the guys that I’m throwing to.”
Wilson also confirmed that if it was a game week, he’d be out there right now, acknowledging that a little “adversity” can be a good thing early in the NFL season.
Justin Fields Shows Big-Play Potential With Russell Wilson Sidelined on Day 2 of Steelers Camp
As Wilson continued to sit out, Justin Fields continued to get reps with the first-team offense. His second practice was mixed, according to A-to-Z Sports Pittsburgh reporter Rob Gregson, starting a bit slower and then finishing strong.
“The Steelers started practice with their trademarked: ‘Seven Shots’ for the first time, and it didn’t go swimmingly for Fields,” Gregson relayed. “The defense would win 4-3 but Fields went 1-5 during his reps against the first-team defense, reportedly struggling with ball location and tipped passes.”
Later, the Steelers QB2 bounced back with highlight reel throws to George Pickens and Calvin Austin III — giving fans a taste of the big-play potential that this offense could have with Fields under center.
A fan shared the long ball to Pickens on X, which almost had the look of a Hail Mary.
But the more impressive throw on the part of Fields came on the Austin connection. A fan called this link up “perfectly placed” while sharing video on X — as the signal-caller hit Austin on a line inside a tight window between the cornerback and the safety.
Those are the types of plays that Fields can make with his arm — not to mention what he can add with his legs. The question is, can he do it consistently enough to push Wilson for the starting gig?
Ex-NFL QB Predicts Justin Fields Will Unseat Russell Wilson ‘by October’
There will likely be hot takes like this all summer — especially if Wilson misses an extended period of time — but Fields gained another public supporter on July 25.
Ex-NFL quarterback Chase Daniel joined team Fields after one day of practices, stating on X: “I promise you by October Justin Fields will be leading the Steelers. Bookmark it.”
Daniel was a long-time backup QB in the league, bouncing around several different organizations. Now he makes his living as a quarterback analyst and podcaster, as creator of the “Chase Daniel Show” on YouTube.
That doesn’t necessarily make him right or wrong about Fields, but it is interesting to see more and more knowledgeable parties backing the 25-year-old.
