For the first time since Sept. 4, Russell Wilson is expected to take part in a full practice for the Steelers as they begin preparation for their game Sunday at Las Vegas against the Raiders.
Head coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex that the quarterback, who aggravated a calf injury that had sidelined him for two weeks of training camp, is expected to practice in full this week. The team, however, remains cautious regarding Wilson's availability to be active against the Raiders, wanting to see how Wilson's calf injury responds to a full practice load.
"We're in a little bit different place with Russ this week than we have been in recent weeks," Tomlin said. "I just met with him and the training staff in preparation for (Wednesday). Tomorrow will be the first Wednesday that he'll be a scheduled full participant. We'll see what that leads us first. We'll see if he's able to pull it off and get through the session. And if he does, what is the quality of that work look like, his ability to protect himself, etc, some of the conversations that we've been having, but just been having more in a hypothetical way? He's at the part of health now where we can work on Wednesday without restrictions, and so we'll do so."
Wilson was named the Steelers' starting quarterback prior to the regular season opener at Atlanta, but aggravated the calf injury at practice the Thursday prior to that game against the Falcons Sept. 8.
With Wilson out, Justin Fields has started the first five games for the Steelers, leading them to a 3-2 start while completing 67.6 percent of his passes for 961 yards with five touchdown passes and one interception. He's also rushed for three scores.
Even with Wilson nearing a full return, Tomlin isn't yet ready to name a starter for the remainder of the season until he sees how Wilson responds to an increased workload.
As such, Fields will take starter's reps in Wednesday's practice, with Wilson supplanting Kyle Allen for the second-team snaps.
"Until Russ gets to a point where we're comfortable with what we're looking at, he's able to execute all schematics, he's able to put together back-to-back consecutive days and so forth, I just think that's a hypothetical conversation," Tomlin said. "We're going to continue to push forward with Justin until those things are legitimate, and then we'll make decisions accordingly."
The Steelers acquired all three of their quarterbacks this offseason in a complete makeover of that position group.
Wilson, a 13-year veteran, nine-time Pro Bowl selection and former Super Bowl-winning quarterback, was brought in during the opening salvo of free agency and placed in what Tomlin deemed "pole position" to be the team's starting quarterback.
A few days after Wilson was signed, the team acquired Fields, a former first-round draft pick, via trade with Chicago for a Day 3 draft pick after sending 2023 starter Kenny Pickett to the Eagles.
The Steelers also acquired Allen later in the free agency period.
With Wilson slated to be a full participant this week, there is potential for him to serve at least as the Steelers' No. 2 quarterback against the Raiders.
"I think the fact that he's a full participant is a door that's ajar," Tomlin said. "But to say any more than that is to speculate, because he's got to get through the day. He's got to show up on Thursday and see where the roads lead us in terms of that, like in all circumstances. I know I kind of see it in a blanket sort of way, but it legitimately is our approach to business."
Other injuries: The Steelers were already playing without starting outside linebacker Alex Highsmith, who missed his second game on Sunday night against the Cowboys with a groin injury. During the game, his replacement, Nick Herbig, suffered a hamstring injury, while backup DeMarvin Leal also suffered a neck injury.
Neither returned.
All three were declared out for next Sunday's game in Las Vegas, leaving the Steelers thin at the position behind T.J. Watt and Jeremiah Moon. Moon was only activated for the game against the Cowboys on Saturday after opening the season on injured reserve. Moon played 28 defensive snaps.
The Steelers have outside linebackers Adetokunbo Ogundeji and Eku Leota on their practice squad and might be forced to elevate one or both this week against the Raiders.
Ogundeji started 27 games for the Falcons in 2021 and 2022, while Leota has appeared in nine games in 2023 and this season with the Carolina Panthers. He was signed to the practice squad last week.
"Certainly, we've got some people that are missing this week due to injury, but we don't waste a lot of time focused on that," said Tomlin. "We focus on the readiness of those that are available, and how we divide that labor up. I'm excited about continuing with that strategic process with our staff, and then the physical preparation process with some guys tomorrow. Man, it's a big day maybe for some edge rushers, like Ade and Eku who just got here, maybe one or two of those guys get an opportunity to elevate and be a component of our plans this week."
Unfortunately for the Steelers, those aren't the lone injuries with which they are dealing.
Tomlin also said running back/kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle) will miss his second consecutive game, while three other players, running back Jaylen Warren (knee), safety Damontae Kazee (ankle) and tight end MyCole Pruitt (knee) are doubtful to play.
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Pickens role being managed: Wide receiver George Pickens played a season-low 34 offensive snaps against the Cowboys, though he led the team with seven pass targets, catching three for 26 yards.
As he did following the game when asked about Pickens' reduced snap count, Tomlin said it was due to load management.
"It's just a snap-management thing in an effort to be more productive in today's game," Tomlin said of Pickens, who played on 59 percent of the team's offensive snaps. "Regarding analytics, we do it across a lot of positions, particularly when you look at the totality of a 17-game schedule. I'd imagine Cam Heyward, for example, is playing less snaps than he has, just trying to grow and trying to get optimum productivity among some individuals and going about the best means of doing so. And so that's probably a reflection of the snap totality of last week."
Pickens leads the Steelers with 36 pass targets, 23 receptions and 310 receiving yards.
There also are some circumstances where the team wants a different receiver on the field to perform different duties, such as blocking in the run game.
"Oftentimes he's not at the point of attack in the blocking game, blocking responsibilities within our scheme are more handled by guys like Van Jefferson, to be quite honest with you," Tomlin said.
That said, Tomlin was not happy with the third-year receiver throwing a Cowboys player to the ground by his facemask following a last-ditch scramble drill run by the Steelers in an attempt to win the game.
Television cameras caught Pickens tossing Dallas cornerback Joudan Lewis to the ground by his facemask on the game's final play. To be fair, Lewis appeared to be taunting Pickens after recovering the football following the Steelers' last-ditch effort, but Tomlin said he has spoken to Pickens regarding the incident.
"Certainly there are things that I'm open to addressing and will and do," Tomlin said. "I just don't detail it in settings like this, because it's business between he and I in terms of his growth and development as a player and as a man. I just don't think it aids that growth in the development to address it in open settings such as this regarding his behavior. I am aware of that, and obviously that has been and will continue to be addressed."
