So much for four healthy quarterbacks in the Steelers-Falcons opener Sunday. Pittsburgh starter Russell Wilson (calf) made the trip with his new teammates but his status for the game (1 p.m. ET, FOX) remains uncertain.
Head coach Mike Tomlin divulged Thursday that calf tightness – which developed early in training camp — limited the 35-year-old veteran in practice Thursday and Friday.
“Just felt a little tightness and wanted to be smart about it,” Wilson said Friday. “Obviously, we play the game on Sunday. I’m hoping I get to be in it. Just trying to get ready to go. We’re doing everything we can.
“You hate these nagging things. I’ve been feeling great these last few weeks, honestly.
Just kind of felt a little funny yesterday. The most important thing is getting ready to win. That’s our focus now, doing everything we can, obviously myself included, and obviously getting ready to rock and roll. I’ll be ready to go if I can go.”
Should Justin Fields get the surprise start on Sunday – adding to the NFL’s unprecedented youth movement – he’ll have a happy target at tight end. Pittsburgh on Friday reportedly agreed to terms on a four-year extension with tight end Pat Freiermuth.
Three days earlier, the team locked up defensive tackle Cam Heyward, their unquestionable locker room leader. And regardless of who starts at quarterback, The Ringer’s Bill Simmons sees Heyward and the Steelers defense carrying them into the postseason.
“I think Pittsburgh’s defense is the best unit of all the defenses in either conference,” said Simmons on Thursday’s edition of the Bill Simmons Podcast. “That’s Tomlin plus the defense, plus Wilson not turning the ball over. And they’re just going to grind out these wins, including potentially Week 1 in Atlanta. I’m in on the ‘Nobody believes in us’ with them. And I’m alone.”
That’s because, Simmons said, even Steelers fans aren’t on board with his prediction, pointing to their disheveled offensive line, the play of Wilson the past two years and a lack of receivers.