PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) –Mike Tomlin called it an incomplete grade in Russell Wilson’s Steelers debut because the team rarely won possession downs. Wilson played five series with no points in a 9-3 preseason loss to Buffalo.
Completion percentage was good, Wilson completed all but two passes, but the offense struggled. Wilson was 8-10 for 47 yards with only two first downs in five series. It was way too similar to recent Steelers offensive struggles. It was supposed to be different this year, but it hasn’t been through two preseason games.
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The 35-year-old got nearly all of the first team reps this past week in practice, but success there and the pretty deep throws at St. Vincent College turned into check-downs, short routes and sacks on Saturday. Wilson’s completions in the game were four, 10, zero, two, 12, four, 11 and four yards.
Wilson said they didn’t stay on schedule and didn’t give themselves the best chance to have success against the Bills. He tried to couch the results as just preseason, saying it’s his 13th year and every preseason is different with highs and lows. He said they’ve had great practices and are working hard and that a lot of good goes unseen, while at the same time admitting there are things to fix.
“If our practices weren't as good as they have been, you'd be a little bit more heightened and concerned,” Wilson said. “I think the sense of urgency is always high. If we scored three, four touchdowns, the sense of urgency still should be high. I think that's where you can't be tricked and fooled on a moment. You have to be able to understand it's a long process and it's a process that you've got to enjoy.”
Wilson said that process can be tough and challenging, but it’s worth it. He was slowed early in camp by a calf injury, but said he felt great Saturday at Acrisure Stadium. He didn’t even think about it.
“I felt like I was really myself last year again,” Wilson said. “That's a good feeling. I feel that. I know who I am. I know what's inside of me. I know what we can do as a team, and it takes all of us. It's not just all on my shoulders or anything else. It's all of us together, and we're going to do that.”
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Wilson is technically in a quarterback battle with Justin Fields, although has been listed as the starter in the first two games and was in ‘pole position’ entering training camp. He said he’s getting close and he still knows what he can do when he’s 100 percent.
The 13-year vet is not overreacting to a pair of preseason games, only one of which he played.
“It's early, and we've just got to keep our heads down and keep learning, study the film as much as we possibly can, and that's what we're going to do,” Wilson said. “We're going to get better. This week we're going to have a great week of practice.”