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Steelers set to have Russell Wilson, Jaylen Warren against Raiders after productive practice weeks

Brian Batko, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on

Published in Football

PITTSBURGH — Russell Wilson is slated to be a backup Sunday in Las Vegas, and it'll be unfamiliar territory for him. Jaylen Warren is likely to be a backup, too, but that's a step in the right direction for him.

Wilson and Warren were full participants Friday in the Steelers' final practice of the week, which puts both on track to be in uniform and active against the Raiders. For Wilson, it will be his first time serving as anything other than the inactive emergency No. 3 quarterback.

"I thought he had a good week. He's proven his health, man. It's just a matter of knocking the rust off," coach Mike Tomlin said.

Tomlin added Wilson "probably is going to be active as the No. 2 quarterback" behind Justin Fields. While that could lead to the narrative that Wilson has lost his hold on the No. 1 quarterback job Tomlin awarded to him out of the preseason, his coach noted that it's not quite that simple.

There's a difference between health and rust, as Tomlin put it. In other words, he's threading the needle on how to frame his quarterback situation, considering he isn't immediately reinstalling Wilson as the starter.

"I thought he had a good week displaying his health, his ability to protect himself," Tomlin said. "Now it's just a process of getting reacclimated to the ball."

For what it's worth, the ever-positive Wilson didn't sound the least bit concerned Thursday after practice about any reacclimation period. Trying to minimize the lag time between inactive and starting could be why Wilson has been in a helmet and practicing in a limited capacity since the day he went down with his re-tweaked right calf leading up to Week 1.

Starting right tackle Broderick Jones acknowledged that he believes in either quarterback, both of whom bring different vibes to the huddle. Of course, Wilson has yet to command that huddle in a meaningful game.

 

"I've been getting all the reps," Wilson said. "It's not like I haven't been out there. I've gotten a lot of reps over all this time and everything else and I feel really confident with our guys and who we are. ... I feel confident about that and I'm not worried about that part."

Whomever is under center could have another ball-carrier to hand off to, as well. Apparently, no one told Warren he was described as doubtful by Tomlin early in the week.

Warren managed two limited practices Wednesday and Thursday, but looked like his usual self during individual drills all week. He's been sidelined with a knee injury since Week 3 against the Chargers, a setback that followed his preseason hamstring injury.

"Good trajectory, on the upswing, feeling optimistic about his inclusion," Tomlin said.

This offense hasn't had its usual punch from Warren all season, with Najee Harris being spelled by Cordarrelle Patterson, then the likes of Aaron Shampklin and Jonathan Ward. Assuming Warren wakes up Sunday and feels good, it could be back to the two-man show of the past two seasons in the backfield.

Harris and Warren complement each other well in their styles, which often lends itself to efficiency for one or the other depending on who has the hot hand. No hand has been particularly hot in the running game so far this season, but the Raiders are seventh-to-last in the NFL with 4.9 yards allowed per carry.

"Jaylen is great," Jones said. "He's physical, he's not afraid to run you over and he's not afraid to pick up a linebacker blitzing through the A-gap if need be. I feel like Jaylen just has a full package and he understands the way he plays. Everybody knows he's a contribution to this offense, so we're just waiting to get him back."


(c)2024 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

 

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