Wilson must first beat out Justin Fields for the Steelers starting quarterback job this preseason before having any relevance in Fantasy. The one-time stud has failed to average even 21 Fantasy points per game in each of his past three seasons with a total of 13 outings of 24-plus points in that span. And while he was quite efficient in 2023 with a 66.4% completion rate and a touchdown throw every 17.2 attempts, the Steelers figure to remain run-leaning under new playcaller Arthur Smith, who ranked in the bottom eight in pass attempts per game in each of his past two seasons in Atlanta and four of his five seasons as an offensive coordinator. Wilson's a longshot to ever again put up the numbers he once did, and his playing time is far from guaranteed. That's why Wilson should be avoided in one-QB leagues and isn't even a priority in two-QB formats.
Steelers' Russell Wilson: Deemed inactive for Week 1
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Wilson (calf) is inactive as the Steelers' emergency No. 3 quarterback for Sunday's game against the Falcons, Teresa Varley of the team's official site reports.
Though Wilson campaigned to play in the Steelers' season opener, the team's coaching and training staffs ultimately decided to err on the side of caution and hold the quarterback out for Week 1 after he was a limited participant in practices Thursday and Friday due to the calf injury. Justin Fields will receive the start Sunday and will be backed up by Kyle Allen. Wilson's calf injury isn't believed to be overly significant, so if he's able to increase his practice activity during the upcoming week, he should be on track to make his first start with the Steelers next Sunday in Denver.
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Steelers' Russell Wilson: Not trending toward start
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Wilson (calf) remains questionable for Sunday's game against the Falcons and is set to undergo further examination in the morning, but Justin Fields appears likelier than Wilson to start at quarterback for the Steelers as the 1 p.m. ET kickoff approaches, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Head coach Mike Tomlin had named Wilson the team's Week 1 starter following the preseason, only for the veteran signal-caller to experience calf tightness in Thursday's practice before getting in a limited session Friday. While Adam Schefter of ESPN reported late Saturday that Wilson had informed the Steelers' brass that he thinks he can play in the season opener, the team may be more inclined to take a cautious approach with him if he's operating at well below 100 percent health. In any case, official word on Wilson's status should arrive when the Steelers release their inactive list 90 minutes prior to kickoff. The Steelers have a third quarterback on hand in Kyle Allen and would be able to use him as the backup to Fields if Wilson can't go.
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Steelers' Russell Wilson: Status for Sunday still uncertain
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Wilson (calf), who is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Falcons, has told the Steelers that he can play, but team doctors are being cautious, and the quarterback's status won't be determined until early Sunday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
A report earlier Saturday deemed Wilson's chances of playing Sunday to be "very slim," and Schefter's update neither confirms nor contradicts that perspective. Pittsburgh's decision-makers could feel more comfortable taking a prudent approach and holding the veteran quarterback out due to the presence of Justin Fields, who has ample starting experience in the NFL of his own and had some impressive moments during training camp and the exhibition slate. Per Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com, Wilson intends to test his calf during pregame warmups Sunday and is intent on doing everything he can to be able to suit up for the Week 1 contest. Official word on the Steelers' plans at quarterback might not become clear until the team releases its inactive list 90 minutes before the 1 p.m. ET kickoff.
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Steelers' Russell Wilson: Chance of playing Sunday 'very slim'
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Wilson (calf) is still hoping to play Sunday against Atlanta, but sources indicate that his likelihood of doing so is "very slim," according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Wilson is officially listed as questionable for the contest, but this report creates considerable pessimism about the veteran quarterback's chance of making his regular-season Steelers debut in Week 1. Wilson reported experiencing tightness in his calf Thursday and was limited in practice both that day and Friday. He's slated to undergo continued treatment Saturday night and Sunday morning, and how he responds could ultimately determine whether Wilson is able to suit up against the Falcons. If he does end up missing the contest, Justin Fields is in line to take over as the starter in what would be his first regular-season action for Pittsburgh.
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Steelers' Russell Wilson: Week 1 status TBD
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Wilson (calf) hopes to play Sunday against the Falcons, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Wilson, who aggravated a previous calf injury Thursday, says that he's taking it day-by-day ahead of the contest. When asked if he expected to start Sunday, Wilson told Pryor, "I'm trying to get my body ready to go and rock and roll. Just doing everything we can." If the QB -- who the Steelers figure to list as questionable -- is unavailable this weekend, Justin Fields would be in line to start in his place versus Atlanta.
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Steelers' Russell Wilson: At practice Friday
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Wilson (calf) is present at practice Friday, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reports.
Wilson's practice participation level will be clarified later Friday, along with a possible injury designation ahead of Sunday's game against the Falcons, but it's a good sign that he's taking the practice field Friday after being limited by calf tightness Thursday. Barring a setback, Wilson's poised to make his Steelers debut Sunday, relegating Justin Fields to a backup role.
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Steelers' Russell Wilson: Looks to be starter for Week 1
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Wilson completed both of his passes for 26 yards in Saturday's 24-17 preseason loss to the Lions.
Wilson started for the second consecutive game but played only one drive that ended in a rushing touchdown. Both of his passes went to George Pickens, the latter being an explosive 32-yard gain. Per Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com, coach Mike Tomlin declined to name his starting quarterback for Week 1 against Atlanta, but it's expected that Wilson will get the nod. Even if that's the case, Wilson will likely need to play well to maintain the role over Justin Fields in the long term.
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Steelers' Russell Wilson: Crushed by pass rush
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Wilson completed eight of 10 passes for 47 yards in Saturday's 9-3 preseason loss to the Bills.
Wilson's stat line was underwhelming, but it overstates how well Pittsburgh's first-team offense was able to move the ball. That wasn't necessarily on Wilson, as he was under constant pressure and sacked three times. He narrowly missed out on connecting with George Pickens near Buffalo's goal line on his final drive of the game, though the duo's rapport may be lacking after Wilson missed a significant amount of training camp with a calf injury. The Steelers have consistently stated that Wilson is the starting quarterback heading into the season, though this performance didn't do him any favors in his competition with Justin Fields.
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Steelers' Russell Wilson: Won't play Friday, leader in QB battle
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Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that Wilson won't play in Friday's preseason game against the Texans, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
According to Pryor, Tomlin insinuated that Wilson is the current leader in the battle for the starting quarterback job with Justin Fields, as the coach noted that the depth chart he released Tuesday is "real." The depth chart has Wilson listed as the starter and Fields as the backup, even though the latter has taken far more first-team reps this summer while the former has been limited by a calf injury. Wilson was a full practice participant Tuesday and still has plenty of time to build chemistry with the starters, but the preseason opener will give Fields another chance to impress.
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Steelers' Russell Wilson: Resumes practicing in full
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Wilson (calf) returned to practice as a full participant Tuesday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Wilson had been managing a minor calf strain for nearly the last two weeks, which gave Justin Fields a chance to command Pittsburgh's first-team offense at training camp alone, but the former is now back in the mix at practice. Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Wilson and Fields are alternating reps to begin Tuesday's session, which can be considered confirmation of Adam Schefter of ESPN's recent report that the two remain in a competition for the Week 1 starting gig. Friday's preseason game against the Texans could serve as an opportunity for Wilson or Fields to pull ahead, if they do suit up for a series or two.
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Steelers' Russell Wilson: Making progress
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Wilson (calf) participated in practice Tuesday, Nick Shook of NFL.com reports.
Wilson, who is bouncing back from a calf issue that has curbed his training camp participation, will be brought along slowly, per coach Mike Tomlin. "(Wilson) played some 7-on-7," Tomlin noted with regard to the QB's activity during Tuesday's session. "He got a little 11-on-11 work, not a lot. We'll keep progressing with that throughout the week and moving forward, obviously with the mindset of no steps backward as we do so." With Wilson having been limited at practice, Justin Fields has logged extra reps with the first-team offense.
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Steelers' Russell Wilson: Limited work in individual drills
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Wilson (calf) was sidelined during team sesssions for the fourth straight practice but was a limited participant during individual drills Sunday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Wilson did not participate during the Steelers' walkthrough Sunday morning and was expected to be a non-participant once again. However, he was active during some agility and throwing sessions later on in practice, which was more work than he's done during previous training camp practices. The 35-year-old still wasn't fully suited up, as he wore a ball cap rather than a helmet, and he did not appear to be going full speed, per Pryor. Wilson is the presumed starter over Justin Fields at this point, but the latter will likely need some live reps this training camp in order to separate himself in this competition ahead of the first preseason game Friday, Aug. 9. The Steelers are scheduled to have a day off before returning for the team's first padded practice Tuesday, according to Pryor. While the coaching staff will likely be overly cautious with him, Wilson's activity level Tuesday will be a good indicator of where he's at.
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Steelers' Russell Wilson: Held back by minor calf injury
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Wilson missed Thursday's practice due to calf tightness and is considered day-to-day, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com reports.
Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports that Wilson wanted to practice but was held back by the coaching staff, which gave fellow offseason addition Justin Fields an opportunity to dominate first-team reps. The expectation remains that Wilson will be under center come Week 1, leading a remade offense with a new coordinator (Arthur Smith), two early draft picks on the O-line (OT Troy Fautanu, C Zach Frazier) and open competition for WR spots behind top option George Pickens.
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Steelers' Russell Wilson: Remains in lead for starter gig
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Wilson remains the clear favorite to start Week 1 under center for Pittsburgh and has made a good impression on his new coaching staff throughout OTAs and June minicamp, Chris Ward of SteelersNow.com reports.
Wilson has impressed with arm talent and leadership throughout spring activities, per Mark Kaboldy of The Athletic, and he's reportedly dominated first-team reps to this point. Justin Fields could push for more opportunities during training camp, but for the time being, there's been nothing to suggest any shift from coach Mike Tomlin's remark early in the offseason that Wilson is in the "pole position" to start Week 1 under center. Experience and consistency alone could make enough difference for Wilson, a 35-year-old veteran, to win the starting gig over Fields, but he'll face pressure to keep Pittsburgh in the playoff race, given that he's playing on only a one-year contract.
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Broncos' Russell Wilson: Going to Pittsburgh after Giants visit
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Wilson is traveling to Pittsburgh on Friday to meet with the Steelers' front office and head coach Mike Tomlin, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.
Wilson has permission to meet with other teams but can't technically sign a contract until the Broncos release him at the start of the league year (Wednesday). Multiple Pittsburgh beat writers have suggested the Steelers want to give 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett another shot as the starting quarterback, but most of what we've seen from Pickett suggests that even this post-prime version of Wilson would give the team a better chance to win in 2024. An offset in Wilson's Denver contract means he has no incentive to maximize his 2024 pay from a new team, so he'll likely choose his next destination based on some combination of likelihood to start, chances of making a playoff run and post-2024 compensation. Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Wilson already had an "exploratory meeting" with the Giants earlier this week.
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Broncos' Russell Wilson: Expected to meet with Steelers
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The Steelers are "tentatively planning" to meet with Wilson before the start of free agency, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
The Broncos have given Wilson permission to talk with other teams even though he won't be released until March 13, the start of the 2024 league year. While previous reports out of Pittsburgh suggested the Steelers were ready to move forward with Kenny Pickett and maybe Mason Rudolph as their quarterbacks, the upcoming meeting with Wilson suggests there's at least some level of interest in bringing in a new starter. The decision may end up coming down to financials more so than confidence (or lack thereof) in Pickett. If nothing gets done in Pittsburgh, other potential suitors for Wilson could include the Raiders and Falcons.
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Broncos' Russell Wilson: Future uncertain in Denver
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Wilson is expected to be released by the Broncos before the new league year begins in March, but no final decision on his future with the organization has been made, Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com reports.
After just two seasons in Denver, Wilson looks like he could be headed towards a split with the Broncos. According to Legwold, the veteran quarterback's potential release would result in an $85 million dead-money charge for the Broncos, the largest for a single player since the salary cap was instituted. Despite the sense that Wilson will be released this offseason, head coach Sean Payton said Tuesday that no formal decision on the quarterback has been made, according to Zac Stevens of TheDNVR.com. Meanwhile, general manager George Paton went as far to say that "the door is open" for the 35-year-old signal-caller to return in 2024. Wilson finished the 2023 campaign with 297 completions on 447 pass attempts for 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 15 games. In addition, he was used more as a rusher this season, carrying 80 times for 341 yards and three touchdowns. Overall, the season was a step in the right direction for the Broncos offense after a disappointing start to Wilson's time in Denver in 2022. His potential for future fantasy success hinges on him finding a fitting landing spot on a team in need of experienced quarterback play.
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Broncos' Russell Wilson: Set for backup role in final two games
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Wilson will serve as the backup quarterback in Sunday's game against the Chargers while Jarrett Stidham takes over as the team's starter, Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com reports.
The Broncos plan to bench Wilson for the final two games of the season to avoid any potential injuries and thus preserve the option to cut him before March, when his $37 million salary for 2025 becomes guaranteed. Wilson won't be inactive for the final two contests, however, so he could still wind up taking the field if Stidham gets hurt. Head coach Sean Payton could provide further insight into the team's quarterback situation when he speaks to the media after Wednesday's practice. While starting each of the team's first 15 games and playing all but four snaps on offense, Wilson has completed 66.4 percent of his passes for 6.9 yards per attempt, 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions to go with 80 carries for 341 yards and three scores.
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Broncos' Russell Wilson: QBs to Sit
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Wilson comes into Week 16 with five games in a row with fewer than 20 Fantasy points, and it's tough to trust him in the Fantasy playoffs. He's also facing a Patriots defense that has held five of their past six opposing quarterbacks to fewer than 20 Fantasy points, including Justin Herbert in Week 13 and Patrick Mahomes in Week 15. I would only start Wilson in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues in Week 16.
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Broncos' Russell Wilson: Sleeper QBs
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Wilson has scored fewer than 20 Fantasy points in four games a row, but hopefully this matchup against the Lions will help him get back on track. Four of the past five opposing quarterbacks against Detroit have scored at least 23.2 Fantasy points, and the Lions allow 21.8 Fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks this year. Detroit has also allowed the third-most rushing yards to opposing quarterbacks, and Wilson has seven games this season with at least 30 yards on the ground.
