Russell Wilson, named the Steelers starting quarterback coming out of training camp, will continue to ramp things up as he continues to try to return from a calf issue that has sidelined him for the team's first four games.
But in the meantime, the Steelers will prepare for their next opponent, the Dallas Cowboys, with the understanding that it will be Justin Fields at quarterback for the fifth consecutive game.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday at his weekly press conference at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex that Wilson was taking part in a strenuous workout today, and that could lead to the 13-year veteran taking more of an active part in practices this week. But Wilson will still have to show the coaching staff he's capable of moving and protecting himself within the pocket to be cleared to play.
"We'll see how he feels in the morning, and we'll let that be our guide in terms of his participation," Tomlin said. "But it seems like he's in a place where his participation is going to pick up some in terms of a practice setting in a live pocket. We won't draw too many conclusions, but we'll just start that process, and we'll comb through that day by day, evaluate his ability to move and function and protect himself, and obviously, evaluate his level of productivity.
"And we'll let that be our guide in terms of whether we get into serious consideration as we push forward toward game time this week. So in a lot of ways, I'm taking the same posture that I've taken in recent weeks, but I'm acknowledging that he's doing more work today than he did last Tuesday. He's probably going to produce the potential for more work (Wednesday), and then we'll have some conversations as we proceed through the week based on the result of those things."
Wilson suffered a recurrence of a calf injury that sidelined him for just over two weeks in training camp just a few days before the Steelers' regular season opener at Atlanta Sept. 8. He has not been a full participant in practice since.
With Wilson sidelined, Fields has led the Steelers to a 3-1 start, with the first loss coming, 27-24, last Sunday in Indianapolis.
Fields threw for 312 yards and one touchdown, rushing for another 55 yards and two scores in bringing the Steelers back from a 17-0 first-half deficit, but he also lost a fumble and was part of a botched snap in the closing moments that helped seal the Steelers' fate.
Tomlin, however, liked what he saw of the fourth-year quarterback, who, like Wilson, was acquired by the team this offseason.
Fields had the Steelers in position to potentially win the game in the waning moments, despite the early deficit.
"I didn't feel any blinking," Tomlin said of Fields. "Justin, we've talked about his steady demeanor in recent weeks in terms of the things that I've grown and know and understand about him. I think it's really on display in moments like that. As I mentioned several times in the last several weeks, you really get an opportunity to develop a relationship in the midst of adversity and competition, and I'm not trying to microwave our relationship.
"And so being in circumstances, it's an opportunity for him to get to know me, me to get to know him and to fight and fight together."
Fields has completed 70.6 percent of his passes for 830 yards with three touchdowns and one interception, posting a 98.0 passer rating in his four starts while also rushing for 145 yards and three scores.
Tomlin said Fields' play could allow the coaching staff to perhaps approach the injury to Wilson with less of a sense of urgency than it might normally do so in a situation such as this.
"It potentially could, but it has not to this point," Tomlin said. "The guiding factor for us in this point is the amount of ball that we have in front of us, how early we are in this process, that's probably been one of the significant variables in terms of our approach to his rehabilitation."
Offensive line woes: The Steelers lost starting right guard James Daniels to an Achilles' tendon injury during the game against the Colts, and though the team hasn't yet placed him on injured reserve, the issue is reportedly season-ending.
If that's the case, Daniels would join fellow offensive linemen Nate Herbig, Troy Fautanu and Dylan Cook on injured reserve, though both Fautanu and Cook could return at some point.
Coupled with a pectoral injury suffered by starting left guard Isaac Seumalo that has forced him to miss the first four games, the Steelers have started a different five-man offensive line combination three times in the first four weeks.
Seumalo, however, could return to play this week against the Cowboys. He returned to practice last week before being declared out for the game against the Colts on Saturday.
"I'm excited about the potential of having Isaac back in the offensive line, especially given some of the attrition that's happened here in recent weeks," Tomlin said. "He was close last week. I think it's reasonable to assume that he's got a real shot to make it this time around."
With Semaulo sidelined, second-year player Spencer Anderson and rookie Mason McCormick both made their first career starts this season, with McCormick getting the nod last Sunday against the Colts.
The two had rotated at left guard two weeks ago in the team's home opener against the Chargers. Tomlin said with Seumalo perhaps returning this week, that rotation could continue this week – only at right guard.
Anderson replaced Daniels following his injury at Indianapolis.
"You handle that with quality depth, and thankfully, that's something that we have," Tomlin said. "We've invested a lot to last several off seasons in terms of acquiring young, talented people. They're capable, and they're going to get an opportunity to show that guys like Spence and Mason McCormick have done a real nice job, and we expect that to continue."
Tomlin said Cook, along with outside linebacker Jeremiah Moon, could be in consideration for returning from injured reserve this week, as well.
"I hadn't had those meetings yet, but probably," Tomlin said "And so there's a level of excitement there. We'll see what your participation looks like, and the quality of that participation, and harden that up as we get closer to game time."
More injuries: In addition to Wilson and Seumalo, Tomlin said there are a number of players who came out of Sunday's game against the Colts with some injuries who could be limited early in the week.
Those would include linebacker Nick Herbig, nose tackle Keeanu Benton and running back Cordarrelle Patterson. All are dealing with ankle injuries but could return to play this week.
Meanwhile, outside linebacker Alex Highsmith, who missed the game against the Colts with a groin injury, will sit out his second consecutive game Sunday. Herbig started in his place.
Running back Jaylen Warren, who also missed last Sunday's game with a knee issue, also could return this week, as could tight end MyCole Pruitt. Pruitt has missed the past two games with a knee injury.
Penalty clarification: Tomlin was asked about a penalty assessed against safety Minkah Fitzpatrick for unnecessary roughness late in the third quarter on a second-and-10 incompletion that handed the Colts a first down at the Pittsburgh 43.
Fitzpatrick, playing in the deep middle, closed quickly across the field to collide with Colts wide receiver Adonai Mitchell on a pass that was overthrown.
Fitzpatrick appeared to try to slow down after seeing the ball hit the ground, but the collision was unavoidable.
• Dale Lolley is co-host of "SNR Drive" on Steelers Nation Radio. Subscribe to the podcast here: Apple Podcast | iHeart Podcast
The Colts would go on to score a touchdown that put them ahead 24-10 at the conclusion of that possession.
"You know you're going to get wrong from time to time, just like the opponent's going to make a play from time to time," Tomlin said. "It's how we respond to it. We still had a lot of opportunities to win that game after that call in particular. I didn't like that call. I talked to New York (the league offices) yesterday. They didn't like that call as well, but it doesn't help me on a Monday, and so on Sundays, we better be mentally tough, and we better move on to the next snap and just understand at times that's a component of the game. The officials aren't perfect. None of us are.
"We make mistakes in game that we have to overcome, and if they make a mistake in game, we better be prepared to overcome that as well. That's what you learn as an individual and a collective when instances such as that occur."
