Russell Wilson slated to start preseason game vs. Bills

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Thursday that veteran quarterback Russell Wilson will start Sunday night against the Buffalo Bills if he doesn't have a setback with his calf injury.

Wilson suffered the injury on the eve of the team's first training camp practice and it has caused him to miss practices and the team's preseason debut against the Houston Texans last week. The nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback is in his first season with the Steelers after he was released in March by the Denver Broncos two years into a five-year, $245 million contract.

Wilson entered training camp as the favorite to win the starting job over Justin Fields, who was traded by the Chicago Bears three years after they selected him with the 11th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. The calf injury allowed Fields, 25, to get the start against the Texans, but he was sacked twice and fumbled two exchanges in Pittsburgh's 20-12 loss.

Wilson and Fields split first-team reps during the joint practice with the Bills, and Wilson is confident the ankle issue will not affect his mental approach.

"I don't play with fear," Wilson, 35, said Wednesday. "I never have. You play smart just like a normal game. Got to know when to get down, you got to know when to slide, get out of bounds, all those things. But like I said, I know how to avoid certain things, certain hits and all that. You got to be smart out there. But also, I don't strap on the pads and just get ready to go and play fearful. Anybody knows me, I don't think that way. So I'll be ready to rock and roll if that's the case."

Entering his 13th season, Wilson spent his first 10 years with the Seattle Seahawks, leading the club to back-to-back Super Bowl appearances and the Seahawks' only league title in Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014. He spent the past two seasons with the Broncos, whom he guided to an 11-19 record in 30 starts. He was benched by Sean Payton for the last two games of the 2023 season.

Wilson has passed for 43,653 yards with 334 touchdowns and 106 interceptions in 188 career games.

--Field Level Media