Steelers' Russell Wilson's Alarming Injury Is More Significant Compared To Other Recent QB Calf Injuries

The Pittsburgh Steelers are gearing up for their first game of the 2024 NFL regular season as they travel to play the Atlanta Falcons. Steeler Nation got some concerning news this week however, as Head Coach Mike Tomlin announced that quarterback Russell Wilson's calf injury was giving him issues after Thursday's practice. NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported that Wilson's Week 1 status is now up in the air , leaving the Steelers unsure of who will be taking the field in Atlanta.

After competing with QB Justin Fields for the starting job all offseason, Wilson was just recently named the starting quarterback by Tomlin. The initial plan for Pittsburgh was to have Wilson under center against the Falcons, but if his calf holds him back, it'll be Fields making his debut in the black and gold. Wilson's concerning calf injury arose just before the start of training camp, which was over a month ago.



Tomlin and the Steelers cautiously downplayed the calf injury and stated that they didn't believe or want it to become something long-term. Now, Pittsburgh has two days until the season is underway. Steelers insider with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette , Brian Batko, explained why Wilson's calf injury will come to haunt him more than a typical quarterback.

"Even if Russell Wilson is in there, I've got some concerns at this point," Batko worried. "The calf thing keeps popping up. Especially because again, 35 year old quarterback, wasn't really his usual mobile-self already last year.

I just think, I know people are going to say, 'Oh, why wouldn't you have the same concerns about an Aaron Rodgers this year or Joe Burrow or Kirk Cousins or Justin Herbert?' Like, those are all, for the most part, your prototypical picturesque quarterbacks who can drop back, see over the line, dice you up from the pocket. Like, that's never really been Russell Wilson's game. He's been predicated on escapability, improvisation, ad-lib.

So I look at this calf problem for him differently than I would a lot of different guys." Wilson relies heavily on making plays outside of the pocket and using his legs, which he will need to do against a solid and improved Atlanta pass rush. Grady Jarrett and Matthew Judon of the Falcons are going to be salivating getting ready to attack a banged-up Wilson that can't move like he used to.

The Steelers are going to have a tough decision to make before Sunday whether they'd rather play a limited Wilson, or a healthy Fields . Whichever direction they take, it's going to take all three phases of the game to get the win in Atlanta . Who does the fan base want to see taking the field on Sunday? Steelers' Offensive Line Is Going To Be The Difference Maker Versus The Falcons When Batko was asked what the Steelers needed to prioritize getting right in Atlanta, he pointed to the offensive line.

Regardless of who's going to be under center, the Steelers and their offense won't be able to do anything if the blocking isn't there. The starting front showed some concerns during the preseason, and injuries are already taking a toll. First round tackle Troy Fautanu is still working his way back from an injury after the first preseason game, and Broderick Jones has been playing through an arm injury.

On top of that, Steelers starting guard Isaac Seumalo suffered an apparent injury that would knock him out of the lineup for at least the first week of the season. Rookie center and second rounder Zach Frazier is looking to make his NFL debut on Sunday, and he'll have a massive role in the middle. Frazier performed well in the preseason, and looks like a guy that can make a difference up front.

Pittsburgh is going to need guys like Frazier and Jones to have big games against the Falcons. If the o-line can't stop Judon and the Falcons' defense, it's going to get ugly for the offense. This article first appeared on SteelerNation.

com and was syndicated with permission..