Steelers' Russell Wilson unsure of status due to calf injury - ESPN

PITTSBURGH — Despite naming Russell Wilson as the starting quarterback a week ago, the Steelers enter their Week 1 game in Atlanta without clarity at the position.

After aggravating his training camp calf injury during an early individual period of Thursday's practice, casting doubt on his availability to start Sunday's season-opener against the Atlanta Falcons, Wilson expressed optimism Friday while remaining non-committal about his game status.

«I just felt a little tight,» Wilson said. «I just wanted to be smart about it. Obviously we play the game on Sunday. I'm hoping I get to be in it, obviously, but just trying to get ready to go.

»I'm trying to get my body ready to go and rock and roll, so we're doing everything we can."

Justin Fields would start if Wilson, who was also very limited in Friday's practice, doesn't play Sunday.

Coach Mike Tomlin on Thursday expressed confidence in Fields' ability if he's called upon.

Wilson, who declined to share which calf was injured, said additional evaluation on Thursday revealed «good news» about the severity of the aggravation.

«It wasn't something worse, extremely worse or anything like that, so that was good news,» Wilson said. «I've got to be smart and obviously we're trying to play 20 to 21 games, so I'm trying to play in all [of them], obviously, and that's kind of my mentality, and how we want to go about it.»

Wilson said his participation Sunday could come down to pregame warmups and proper care in the days leading up to the game.

«I think the most important thing is just tons of treatment and getting ready to see what I can do each day and take [it] day by day,» Wilson said.

While Wilson and the staff continue to monitor the veteran quarterback's calf, Fields is taking