Although Russell Wilson was formally declared as questionable to play Sunday, he is not expected to start in his return to Denver when the Pittsburgh Steelers face the Broncos.
Justin Fields is expected to make a second consecutive start at quarterback, meaning Wilson is likely to watch from the sidelines as his new team faces the team he played for the past two seasons.
“Obviously, if (Wilson’s) availability is questionable, then starting is less so,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said after Friday’s practice at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
“But we have been in that mindset all week. Like I’ve said, we have been focused on getting Justin ready to play, and we will continue in that mindset as we push forward toward game time.”
Russell Wilson will be listed as questionable for the Steelers on Sunday pic.twitter.com/668XdwLyF6
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) September 13, 2024
Wilson has been dealing with a calf injury since reporting day to training camp at Saint Vincent. It was aggravated last week, and Fields started a season-opening 18-10 victory at the Atlanta Falcons.
Wilson is earning almost $38 million this season from the Broncos as part of the guarantees in the contract he signed upon being acquired via trade with the Seahawks in 2022. But Wilson’s play for the Broncos was not to the level that had made him a nine-time Pro Bowl honoree over 10 seasons in Seattle.
Veteran coach Sean Payton took over the Broncos last year and made the decision to bench Wilson late in the season.
The Steelers traded for Fields in March a day after introducing Wilson during a news conference upon him signing a one-year deal.
Fields started 38 games over three seasons with the Chicago Bears, who drafted him No. 11 overall in 2021. In his 39th career start last week, Fields completed 17 of 23 passes for 156 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions in his Steelers debut last week. He was sacked twice and had 57 rushing yards.
“He’s got a good experience from his time in Chicago,” Steelers coordinator Arthur Smith said, “but as a young player, even some of these rookies, he’s barely older than some of these rookies that are playing right now that got drafted high. And those reps matter, and those are things that build confidence.”
Wilson served as the emergency No. 3 quarterback for that game, with veteran Kyle Allen the backup. The same scenario is likely to play out in Denver.
