Steelers QB Russell Wilson says he's playing in preseason finale - ESPN

PITTSBURGH — Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson expects to play Saturday against the Detroit Lions in the preseason finale, he said Wednesday.

«We're playing,» he said. «Yeah, we're all playing. I'm excited to get back on the field. Last week was great to be out there for the first time, putting more pads on and everything else. And obviously we didn't get the win and everything else, but I think the big thing for us is just executing and us making our plays and doing our thing.»

Wilson, 35, played five series against the Buffalo Bills in the team's second preseason game, but the Steelers failed to put any points on the board and frequently got behind the chains.

Because of that and his abbreviated training camp due to a calf injury, Wilson wants another opportunity to get in game action and work on staying on schedule in the offense before the Steelers' Week 1 opener in Atlanta.

«I think the most important thing for us to accomplish is to play efficient football, move the ball and down the field,» Wilson said. «Obviously we want to celebrate in the end zone. That would be fun. We need to make sure that happens, and that's the standard of football we want to be able to play in.»

Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that he'll detail the division of labor for the third preseason game in his Thursday pregame news conference.

Wilson was only supposed to play «two or three» series against the Bills, he said Wednesday, but he pushed offensive coordinator Arthur Smith to let him go back out on the field after the Steelers went three-and-out on their first two drives. Wilson's unit picked up its first first down on the third series, but overall, the first-team offense went 1-for-6 on third-down conversions.

«The first series went a