ATLANTA – Justin Fields started at quarterback in the Pittsburgh Steelers' season opener against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday while Russell Wilson is sidelined with a calf injury.
Wilson, who was limited in practice on Thursday and Friday due to an aggravation of an injury sustained in training camp, is the Steelers' emergency quarterback, meaning he can only play if Fields and Kyle Allen, who will fill in as a backup on Sunday, are injured.
Wilson took the field just before 10:30 a.m. ET on Sunday and performed a series of throws with two Steelers equipment staff for about 15 minutes. Wilson appeared to move slowly through the warmup, as he made several small dropbacks before firing a pass. He warmed up in each end zone and finished with fades to the corner.
Wilson then returned to the field shortly after 11 a.m. ET and spoke briefly with general manager Omar Khan. Wilson then began throwing again, this time to quarterback coach Tom Arth. Fields warmed up nearby, throwing the ball with tight end Connor Heyward and wide receiver Calvin Austin III. Wilson still moved minimally during the warmup while Fields repeated rollouts and dropbacks.
Both Wilson and Fields threw passes to the wide receivers during warmups as they lined up for routes, but each time Fields took the first rep of the drill, followed by Allen and then Wilson.
Fields started 38 games in his three-year tenure with the Chicago Bears before being traded to the Steelers in the offseason for a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick. The sixth-round pick will become a fourth if Fields plays more than 50% of the team's snaps this season.
Fields is 10-28 in those 38 starts with the Bears and has thrown for 6,674 yards with 40 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. He has also rushed for 2,220 yards and 14 TDs.
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