Russell Wilson's message Thursday afternoon in the Steelers locker room at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex was clear: He and the Steelers are "trying to be smart" and strategic with the calf injury he aggravated in practice last week.
Speaking to the media for the first time since Justin Fields led the Steelers to an 18-10 victory over the Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Wilson said he was trying to get to a place both "mentally and physically" during the lead-up to the game where he thought he could play. But after speaking with Mike Tomlin, they decided that his calf "wasn't ready yet."
"Just trying to be smart," Wilson said. "I think it was a smart decision in terms of, we have confidence in our football team and I think that’s the great thing about our team. We have a great defense, we have great special teams and offensively we can do some really special things as well."
This whole process started back at the beginning of training camp in Latrobe, Pa. where Wilson injured his calf while pushing a weighted sled during the Steelers' conditioning test. Wilson said Thursday that he felt disappointment at that time because he could tell it was a "pretty good, pretty strong calf injury." However, he was able to work through it and started to take team reps with the first team by the end of training camp.
When he aggravated the injury during practice last Thursday while practice roll-out passes, Wilson said he understood at that point that he would have to be smart with it, in an effort to preserve the rest of his 2024 season.
"With this so early in the season, I also want to be strategic," Wilson said. "Coach and I have talked a lot about it, we believe in our football team, we believe who we are and all the things that we can do. So, just trying not to rush it, so it’s a long long period of time."
The Steelers showcased last week that they don't necessarily need Wilson to win football games. Fields displayed that he is fully capable of running Arthur Smith's offense as he completed 17 of his 23 pass attempts for 156 yards and orchestrated an offense that rushed for 137 and put Chris Boswell in position to convert six field goals. Most importantly, Fields didn't turn the ball over.
When the Steelers' defense can limit teams as they did in the second half Sunday when the Falcons only garnered 51 yards of offense, the Steelers offense doesn't need to light up the scoreboard. Tomlin and Wilson both understand that and it shows with how they are managing Wilson's injury. It's about the end game. Wilson wants to be able to play at the end of the season when the games matter the most.
"We have a long season, we want to be able to play 20, 21 games, that’s our goal, to get to the end of it all," Wilson said.
When Tomlin spoke with the media earlier this week, he said the Steelers would play Wilson's situation by ear after seeing him participate in practice and what he could do physically, which included being able to protect himself. Wilson said Thursday he "got to do a lot of work today on the field" and was getting "closer and closer" but said that decision is also in the hands of the doctors.
Wilson characterizes himself as a competitive person and said he's the type of player who always wants to "go and play" but when that will come, is up in the air. While citing again that he and the team are trying to be smart, Wilson said there are a few things that give him a good perspective of when he'll be ready to play.
"The first part is the will, I got the will," Wilson said. "The second part is you have to, physically, be able to do everything. I’m getting there, and I also have to listen to the doctors and hear what they have to say and all that. At the end of the day, it’s kinda one of those decisions where it’s a team effort of trying to figure out what’s the best thing. I’m doing everything I can to go, that’s for sure."
Wilson and the Steelers head into Denver this week to take on Wilson's former team and while Tomlin scoffed at the idea of Wilson being able to help the Steelers from a game-planning perspective or knowing what the Broncos bring to the table, the veteran quarterback flashed a big smile when he was asked about the idea.
"I got some insight, for sure," Wilson said.
