If the work he received Wednesday was any indication, Russell Wilson will make his debut and start at quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers when they play their second preseason game Saturday night against Buffalo.
Wilson took all the starting reps in the opening team period of the Steelers’ final practice at Saint Vincent College, and he took most of the snaps with the first-team offense in the other portions.
It was the most activity for Wilson since he returned from a calf injury and participated in team portions about a week ago.
Afterward, Wilson said he is “ahead of schedule” in his recovery.
“I’ve been working every single day,” he said. “Even the days when I was lighter in teams, I was getting the fundamental work, and over the past two weeks I’ve been building up a lot more reps in the team drills. It has been great.”
As has been his custom, Wilson did some throwing after practice. He also hopped on one leg to test the strength of his calf.
“Just building it up every day,” he said. “I got to run a good amount today. I’ve been training like crazy. Just getting ready to roll.”
Wilson watched from the sideline last Friday as Justin Fields got the start in the Steelers’ preseason opener against Houston. Fields played three series, an indication of the workload Wilson might expect to receive in his debut.
Coach Mike Tomlin will wait until after the team’s joint practice Thursday against the Bills to outline the playing time his quarterbacks will be allotted Saturday. Tomlin, though, did say he expects all healthy players to dress and play in a game that is regarded as the closest thing to a tuneup for the season opener.
“The arrow has pointed up the whole time,” Tomlin said. “I like the trajectory of it, certainly.”
Wilson said he’s not looking beyond the joint practice.
“I’m expecting to be great tomorrow,” he said. “I’m doing everything I can to be ready to go. It’s coach’s call on if he wants me to play and the doctors, too. I’m just focusing on being great tomorrow.”
Wilson reiterated what he said a week earlier: that he wants to see game action before the Steelers’ face the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 8 in the regular-season opener. Wilson played in two preseason games last season when he was with the Denver Broncos. In the two previous years, including his final one in Seattle, he did not get a snap in a preseason game.
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“I always want to play, no matter what,” he said. “Anytime I can step in between the white lines — even if it’s in the parking lot — I just love playing the game. The reality is I’m always ready to play. I want to be in the huddle with the guys.”
Wilson isn’t concerned about taking a hit that might aggravate his calf injury. Or having any kind of setback that would delay his start to his first season with the Steelers.
“I don’t play with fear,” he said. “I never have. You play it smart like a normal game. You have to know when to get down, when to slide, when to get down. It’s my 13th year. I know how to avoid certain hits. You have to be smart out there. You can’t play scared.”
Wide receiver George Pickens is looking forward to continuing the relationship he has forged with Wilson on the practice field at Saint Vincent.
“He’s a good leader,” Pickens said. “He’s more verbal than the other quarterbacks, for sure. His enthusiasm is the best thing about him.”
Joe Rutter is a TribLive reporter who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since the 2016 season. A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Point Park, he is in his fifth decade covering sports for the Trib. He can be reached at jrutter@triblive.com.