In a thrilling turn of events, head coach Mike Tomlin announced on Tuesday that quarterback Russell Wilson would be back in action as a full participant in practice for the first time this week. And true to his word, Wilson (calf) took the field on Wednesday, showcasing his skills as the Steelers gear up to face the Raiders this weekend.
Tomlin, always a master of strategy, revealed in his Monday press conference that Wilson would initially work with the scout team to ease back into the groove without disrupting Justin Fields’ prep. However, the team will closely monitor Wilson’s progress and how he responds to the intense practice sessions. Tomlin made it clear that while the possibility of Wilson being active this weekend was on the table, it all depends on how he performs on Thursday, saying, “He’s got to show up on Thursday and see where the roads lead us in terms of that.”
Looking back at Wilson’s impressive stats from his time with Denver last season, where he boasted a 66.4% completion rate with 3,700 yards, 26 touchdowns, and just eight interceptions, it’s clear that his presence on the field can make a significant impact on the Steelers’ offense.
But Wilson wasn’t the only one making waves on the injury report. Safety Damontae Kazee (ankle), linebacker Nick Herbig (hamstring), linebacker Alex Highsmith (groin), running back/returner Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle), and defensive end DeMarvin Leal (neck) were all sidelined during practice. On the brighter side, running back Jaylen Warren (knee) and tight end MyCole Pruitt (knee) were limited in their participation.
Meanwhile, a handful of Steelers stars, including running back Najee Harris, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, guard Isaac Seumalo, linebacker T.J. Watt, defensive tackle Cameron Heyward, and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi, took a much-needed rest day to recharge and come back stronger for the upcoming game.
With Wilson’s return and the team’s determination to overcome the injury setbacks, the Steelers are gearing up for an action-packed showdown against the Raiders. Stay tuned as the drama unfolds on the field this weekend.
