PITTSBURGH — Much of that Russell Wilson excitement from last week when he formally was named "QB1" by Mike Tomlin has dissipated. Sure, Wilson could receive treatment on his problematic calf — he declined to say if it's the right or left — and wake up Sunday ready for action in Atlanta.

But it's looking more and more likely the Steelers will start Justin Fields at quarterback in Week 1 after Wilson tweaked that calf in individual drills Thursday and didn't do much in team periods Friday, by his own admission. Ever the optimist, Wilson stopped short of ruling himself out 48 hours before kickoff.

"Just felt a little tight. Just wanted to be smart about it," Wilson said. "Obviously, we play the game on Sunday, and I'm hoping I get to be in it. Just trying to get ready to go."

As for whether he expects to be ready to go?

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

Fields actually confirmed that Wilson was not involved in any 11-on-11 sessions in the final full practice before the team has a mock game Saturday.

"Of course, since he's out — or since he didn't get reps," Fields said afterward when asked if Friday was the most he'd worked with the first-team offense this week. "But there were full periods where me and him were splitting that stuff. ... Yeah, you can theoretically say that, just because he wasn't a participant today."

Wilson first sustained the injury while pushing a weight-training sled on report day in Latrobe. He took incremental steps to return to full practice and eventually was given the nod to play in the final two preseason games, though he termed himself less than 100% but "getting close" after the first one.

Soft-tissue injuries are notoriously concerning, which casts doubt on Wilson's goal to play in 20 or 21 games this season, as he puts it. Mathematically, that would include a Super Bowl run.

Wilson did say that when the injury was further evaluated Thursday, "there was good news there; there wasn't something extremely worse or anything like that." But his regular-season tenure with the Steelers could have a delayed launch much like his practice time.

"The biggest thing is you hate these nagging things," Wilson said. "I've been feeling great, honestly, the past few weeks. I've been feeling really good. Just felt a little funny [Thursday]. ... If I can go, I'm gonna go, and try to do everything I can to help us win. That's how I think about it. If not, I'm gonna do everything I can to help us win in that way, too."

Enter Fields, a native of suburban Atlanta who would get to return to his hometown to face the Falcons, very much a quarterback-needy team this offseason that could've pursued a local product with upside. Fields acknowledged that the Falcons signed Kirk Cousins to a lucrative contract before the Bears ever traded him to the Steelers, but surely Atlanta could've worked out a deal at some point if it had that desire.

"Nah, I wasn't really thinking that," Fields said.

He also wasn't thinking he'd be in and out, up and down as much as he's been in his time with the Steelers already, which hasn't included a single meaningful game. When it came to the starting job, Tomlin sided with Wilson's limited work in anticipation for the season over what Fields showed in his extended audition.

The decision was tough, according to the man who made it, but now it's not so difficult if Wilson is in a holding pattern. Fields didn't sound surprised by Tomlin's choice, but insisted his process has always been to stay even-keeled, both in his approach and mentality.

"That's the thing, you really can't ride the wave of emotions," Fields said. "You have to keep feelings out of it. Really, my job is to be the best player I can be for this team, whether that's starting or whether that's being the backup. I'm not necessarily in my feelings or whatever the case may be."

The only time Fields — who played at Harrison High School in Kennesaw, Ga., then at Georgia before transferring to Ohio State — faced the Falcons in Atlanta was 2022 with Chicago. He threw for 153 yards, one touchdown and one interception on 14-of-21 passing while being sacked four times.

Fields did run 18 times for 85 yards and a score, but he served up a pick while trying to lead a two-minute drill that just about sealed a 27-24 win for the Falcons. He also hurt his left shoulder in the game and missed the following week.

Last year with the Bears, Fields completed 20 of 32 passes for a touchdown with no interceptions while rushing for 45 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries to beat the Falcons 37-17 in Week 17. That happens to be his most recent NFL win. He's preparing as if he'll get a shot to make it two in a row.

"Anything can happen," Fields said. "Shoot, if Russ plays, he could get hurt first drive or not feel good first drive, and guess what? I'm in. You've always got to be ready."

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