The Pittsburgh Steelers will face the Denver Broncos in their Week 2 matchup on Sunday. The Steelers will be looking to improve to 2-0 for the first time since 2020, and they’ll be looking to do it with Justin Fields under center.
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Head coach Mike Tomlin named Fields the starting quarterback in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons. Although Wilson was named the starter to begin the season, a calf injury kept him out of the Week 1 win.
We’re just one day into Week 2 and Wilson’s status remains uncertain. Tomlin updated the media and said if his availability is uncertain, he likely won’t start against the Broncos.
#Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin told reporters the team considers Russell Wilson (calf) doubtful for Sunday, but added: “If his availability is questionable, then starting is less questionable.”
It looks like another week where Justin Fields will start against the #Broncos.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 13, 2024
Fields led the Steelers to victory last week as Wilson nursed a calf injury.
Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images
NFL reporter Grant Gordon said Wilson has made good progress since his injury.
“Because of a calf injury that lingered from training camp into the regular season, Wilson missed the Steelers’ Week 1 win over the Atlanta Falcons, with Justin Fields starting. Earlier in the week, Tomlin said the team was preparing as if Fields would be the starter, but after a week of practice, Wilson showed enough improvement that he could start against the Broncos, who gave up a huge amount of players and draft picks to acquire Wilson ahead of the 2022 season.”
Wilson is doing everything he can to get on the court against his former team, with whom he spent the last two seasons. From the start, Wilson’s time in Denver was a disaster.
The 35-year-old went 11-19, completed 589 passes, completed 63.3 percent of his passes, threw for 6,594 yards, 42 touchdowns and 19 interceptions with a passer rating of 90.9.
Russell struggled mightily under head coach Nathaniel Hackett in 2022, and while he improved in 2023 under head coach Sean Payton, he and Payton never saw eye to eye. Ultimately, Wilson was benched for the final two games of the 2023 season and was released last offseason before landing in Pittsburgh.
Wilson signed a five-year, $242 million contract with the Broncos ahead of the 2022 NFL season. Now that he’s out of Denver, the deal still stands. The Broncos will pay Wilson a guaranteed $39 million through 2024 to get him out the door.
Wilson is now looking to redeem himself with a new team. There’s no word yet on when we’ll get to see him first in Pittsburgh, but he’s doing his best to be on the field for Week 2.
The Steelers are the away favorites with a spread of -2.5, according to ESPN Bet.
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