LATROBE, Pa. (AP) — Russell Wilson stepped up under centre, barking out the play call.
He took a snap and turned to his left to hand it off to reserve running back Aaron Shampklin, then backpedalled quickly so as to remove himself from the play.
It was as nondescript as any 11-on-11 rep over the five practices completed so far during this Pittsburgh Steelers training camp, and it was a routine football manoeuvre Wilson had executed countless times over the past two decades.
But for Wilson and the Steelers, the sequence was a milestone: Wilson’s first live team rep as Steelers quarterback during this training camp.
“It’s good to be back out here again with the guys, putting the helmet on,” said Wilson, who did not take part in any full-squad drills over the first four days of camp because of a calf injury. “Just doing the quarterback drills, the fundamental work, some of the handoffs. But being in there with the fellas is always the best part. It was a good day, for sure.”
Signed in March for the NFL veteran minimum over one season because he’ll be paid $39 million by the Denver Broncos in 2024, the 35-year-old Wilson was entrenched as the first-team quarterback all throughout OTAs and mini-camp.
But Wilson’s calf tightened up as the result of pushing a blocking sled during the annual conditioning test on the day the Steelers reported to Saint Vincent College last week.
That compelled coach Mike Tomlin to sit Wilson when practices started, and that persisted all throughout the four-day acclimation period to start camp before a day off Monday leading into Tuesday’s first full-contact practice of camp.
Former Chicago Bears starter Justin Fields — also acquired in March — has been taking the first-team reps. Aside from two called running plays in which Wilson took the snaps, Fields again ran with the first-team offence Tuesday. Wilson did, however, take a series with the starters during a 7-on-7 period late in practice.
“We’ll keep progressing with that throughout the week and moving forward,” Tomlin said. “Obviously, with the mindset of ‘no steps backward’ as we do so.”
Wilson had slowly been ramping up his throwing and agility and footwork drills over the past four days. He did not miss on a throw during 7-on-7 play Tuesday, connecting on a slant to George Pickens and a throw over the middle to Scotty Miller before his highlight: a long pass about 40 yards downfield that landed into the waiting hands of tight end Connor Heyward in stride.
“That,” Wilson said, “was sweet. Connor made a big-time play, an explosive play, down the field. I was able to launch it down the field to him. He had a great reaction: ‘Thanks for throwing me the moon ball.’”
Coincidentally or not, Fields seemed to have his best practice of camp Tuesday. He showed his speed on designed runs and was as accurate as he has been over five days at Saint Vincent, connecting on well-placed throws to Pickens and Van Jefferson.
“I am glad I get to get (first-team) reps now and not the first being in a game or something like that,” Fields said. “It’s good getting the guys getting comfortable hearing my voice in the huddle, and getting me comfortable being in the huddle with them.”
A nine-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion, Wilson is remaining patient in regards to his unscheduled absence from practice.
“More than anything else, it’s just trying to be as smart as possible,” Wilson said. “We have a long way to go. It’s not even August yet … so just trying to be extremely smart.
“Just taking it one day at a time. I’ll be ready to go when it’s time.”
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The Associated Press