There is optimism at Steelers camp that quarterback Russell Wilson (calf) could return to practice this week.

"The plan, to my understanding, is he's going to see the doctor again this coming week," Pelissero said (H/T Sports Illustrated). "There's optimism that he's going to be fine, be able to get back out there and take back some of those reps that he's been giving up to [Justin Fields]."

Wilson is expected to step right back into the QB1 role when he does return to practice, but his absence has allowed Justin Fields to get plenty of reps with the first team and try to close the gap in the competition. Wilson is a low-end QB2 in our current rankings.

Quarterback Russell Wilson injured a calf during the team’s conditioning test. On Tuesday, he finally participated in training-camp practice. It was also the first training-camp practice of 2024 in pads.

Via 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh, Wilson took a few snaps in 7-on-7 and executed a handoff in 11-on-11 drills.

Obviously it wasn't a high workload, but Wilson says he feels good and is getting better every day. The story said the team doesn't seem to be rushing Wilson back into a full workload as HC Mike Tomlin said he's "slowing down the progress" and playing it day-to-day. Wilson remains a low-end QB2 heading into drafts.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin told reporters that QB Russell Wilson is dealing with a calf issue that he woke up with and he’s considered day-to-day. Justin Fields took the first-team reps.

A murky situation continues to get murky, and it's unlikely to clear up any time soon. Wilson was reportedly the shoo-in as the lead guy through times this summer, but if Fields ends up shining with his opportunities, we can imagine that sentiment flipping. We'll keep an eye on the situation, but neither QB is an obvious click in fantasy as it currently stands.

Standing before a horde of media Tuesday for the first time since being acquired during an offseason trade, Justin Fields essentially said he sees an open competition with Russell Wilson for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starting quarterback job.

The reality of the situation is that — barring injury — there is no chance that Fields will be the starting quarterback over Wilson for the season opener Sept. 8 in Atlanta.

The beat reporter's assurance should boost Wilson up the rankings a little bit, but let's not get ahead of our skis. The veteran looked terrible during his two seasons in Denver and could still cede time to Fields. Neither is worth more than a speculative add in deep SuperFlex leagues.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin reiterated that Russell Wilson “has pole position” to be the starting QB. Not against competition. And “when it’s time to compete, Justin will be given an opportunity to show his capabilities.”

He said Justin Fields “oozes talent.”

Wilson deserves to have competition after his showing in Denver, but in the early stages, it looks as if it's his job to lose. He should be considered off the radar in typical 1QB leagues, but if anything were to happen that granted Fields the job, the latter would be right back in QB1 conversations.

The full trade compensation:
-- Eagles get QB Kenny Pickett and the Steelers original 4th round pick (120 overall) in 2024.
-- Steelers get Eagles 3rd round comp pick (98 overall) and the Eagles highest two 7th round draft picks in 2025.

Related Players: Russell Wilson

This clears the runway for Russell Wilson to take over the starting role throughout the offseason. Pickett will be in pole position to backup Jalen Hurts.

Nine-time Pro-Bowl QB and former Super-Bowl champ Russell Wilson plans to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers, per league sources. Wilson will sign a team-friendly, one-year deal in which the Broncos will wind up paying $38 million of his salary while Wilson wears the black and yellow.

Related Players: Kenny Pickett

The new pairing of Wilson and OC Arthur Smith is a clear upgrade on the last two seasons of Matt Canada/Kenny Pickett/Mason Rudolph. Though Wilson himself is unlikely to be a weekly starter in typical 1QB leagues, Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, and even Pat Freiermuth should all get a tick upwards.

Smith should form a gameplan that will include play action and middle-of-the-field targets that were missing from the offense in 2023.

The Broncos are strongly considering having QB Russell Wilson sit for the final two games, preserving financial flexibility for the offseason.

Wilson has $37M in 2025 salary that vests in March of 2024, and if he suffered a serious injury, it would complicate matters.

Related Players: Jarrett Stidham

Well this is quite the bombshell. The Broncos have a very good fantasy matchup coming up this weekend, as Wilson was in-line for a face-off against a pedestrian Chargers defense. Stidham offers a decent top-18 option, if he were to get the nod. We'll keep an eye on this story for the rest of the week.

Sean Payton pointing to Jarrett Stidham being an "important signing" AND saying the team believes he can become an NFL starting QB.

Related Players: Russell Wilson

It seems like Payton is already planting seeds in case Russell Wilson duplicates his 2022 performance. It's worth keeping an eye on, and Stidham should be on Dynasty Superflex rosters.

The contract that GM George Paton gave to Russell Wilson in late August makes the cap consequences for cutting him after the first year of the new deal untenable. Without a post-June 1 designation, the Broncos would take a $107 million cap charge by cutting Wilson this year. With a post-June 1 designation, the Broncos would carry $22 million in Wilson’s name this year, and $85 million in 2024.

Obviously the best-case would be to fix the Wilson and the offense. But getting rid of Wilson gets a little easier after the 2023 season. The story went on to say: a post-June 1 designation in 2024 would result in a $35.4 million cap charge that year, with $49.6 million carried over to 2025. Here’s another reason to do it in early 2024. If Wilson is on the roster on the fifth day of the 2024 league year, $37 million in 2025 salary becomes fully guaranteed. Wilson already has received $57 million for 2022. He has another $67 million in fully-guaranteed payments over the next two years. A trade would result in a lower cap charge, by foisting the remaining guarantees onto a new team. But who in their right mind would take on Wilson at $67 million over two years, and $104 million over three.