Steelers' Russell Wilson offers update on injured calf

Some eyebrows were raised on Friday when it was learned that Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson was missing practice for the second consecutive day due to what appears to be a minor calf injury.

Wilson discussed the issue while speaking with reporters.

"We were doing a sled push thing and just got a little ... tweaked it a little bit," Wilson explained, as shared by Josh Carney of Steelers Depot. "So, just working hard and just sometimes things happen. But the good thing, the good news is that I feel good and we will get there in time. And good thing is I'm getting a lot of the mental reps and throwing, throwing stuff on the side and the post-practice and all that as well."

Wilson was banged up multiple times across the past two campaigns with the Denver Broncos, turns 36-years-old this coming November and reportedly "couldn't manage or handle the play-calling" of Denver head coach Sean Payton last season. Thus, some understandably may be concerned that he's already missing out on valuable reps so early into training camp.

As was the case throughout springtime workouts, 25-year-old signal-caller Justin Fields was a mixed bag handling first-team duties in Wilson's place on Thursday. There doesn't seem to be much of a quarterback controversy hovering over the Steelers this summer, but that theoretically could change if Fields flips a figurative switch with Wilson recovering from his calf-related setback.

"I love practice," Wilson said. "I hate missing practice. I hate not being out there, and it's always been a thing for me my whole career ... So, that's why I'm being super intentional, still getting all the plays, seeing everything, walking through everything still, doing everything I can, even after practice, coming out here and getting extra work and whatever it may be."

Wilson added during his comments that the calf problem is "nothing to panic about." That's all well and good, but logic suggests his coaching staff wants him to get in as much work as possible now so that he doesn't have to risk his health when Pittsburgh opens the preseason with a home game versus the Houston Texans on Aug. 9.

As for Fields, he has to make the most of every opportunity he gets as the club's temporary QB1 amid a competition that may already be over.