Russell Wilson's calf injury figures to make his return to Denver with the Steelers just a footnote

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Broncos expect to see Russell Wilson on the sideline in full pads and eye black this weekend, just as he was in the Pittsburgh Steelers' opener at Atlanta despite being inactive with a strained calf.

The Broncos (0-1) anticipate facing quarterback Justin Fields instead. He had a solid if not spectacular performance in the Steelers' 18-10 win over the Falcons last week in Wilson's place.

Wilson practiced during the week but all signs pointed toward Fields getting his second straight start.

“Both guys have different strengths, and you’ve got to plan for both,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said. “But certainly it starts with Fields.”

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin began the week saying, “We're preparing as if Justin is going to be our quarterback. I think that's an appropriate way to do it. Speculation is a waste of time. Russell's hurt. He's not available to us.”

If the head coaches are right, Wilson’s much-anticipated return to Denver to face the team that replaced him with rookie Bo Nix will fizzle into a footnote.

Wilson's tumultuous two-year stint in Denver featured an 11-19 record, a coach who didn't make it through his first season and a year with Payton, whom Wilson pined to play for earlier in his career but whose pairing imploded during their one season together.

Wilson ended his stint in Denver on the bench and the Broncos released him in March even though their split triggered a record $85 million in dead cap charges. Wilson signed for the veteran's minimum ($1.21 million) in Pittsburgh, meaning the Broncos are on the hook for $37.79 million of his 2024 salary.

Wilson won the Steelers' starting job but the calf injury he dealt with all summer flared up again last week, sending him to the sideline.

Regardless of Wilson's status, Payton said his former quarterback wasn't taking up any of his headspace during the week.

“No, I mean, we’re not playing tennis or golf,” Payton said. “We’re playing a team game, and we’re focused on the Steelers, and they’re a good football team.”

At least one of his former teammates was thinking a lot about Wilson leading up to the game.

“Russ and I have a very good relationship,” said Broncos receiver Courtland Sutton, who caught 10 touchdown passes from Wilson a year ago. “Like I said before, I’m excited for him and what he has going on in his next part of his journey, wishing him well, and success and health — each week besides this one.”

Alive and Pickens

While Pittsburgh’s depth at wide receiver behind George Pickens remains a question mark, the talented 6-foot-4 pass catcher began his third season looking very much like an exclamation point.

Pickens caught six passes for 85 yards in the opener, and that doesn’t include a 46-yard gain that was wiped out because of a pass interference call. The production was an early indication that first-year offensive coordinator Arthur Smith will be able to find ways to get Pickens open even with the extra attention he commands.

A stiffer test awaits this week when Pickens squares off against Broncos star cornerback Patrick Surtain II, whose status as the game's highest-paid cornerback with his four-year, $96 million contract extension., lasted all of 48 hours before Jalen Ramsey signed an even bigger deal with the Miami Dolphins last week.

Rough road

Payton has harped on the necessity of a fast start all offseason after the Broncos stumbled to a 1-5 record a year ago. But it's a tall task with a rookie QB facing defensive masterminds Mike Macdonald, Tomlin, Todd Bowles and Robert Saleh to start his pro career.

Plus, the Steelers feature superstar T.J. Watt and, as Payton said, “I don’t get into naming who the top defensive players are, but he’s in that discussion.”

“They have great players,” Nix said. "They’ve been a great defense for a long time. I have a lot of respect for them. It's going to be fun playing them for the first time and seeing what it’s like.”

Broncos right tackle Mike McGlinchey suggested Nix will be better off in the long run, if not the short term, for having faced such a fearome foursome of defensive gurus this month.

“The more experience he gets against great defenses, the more he learns," McGlinchey said, “and the faster he learns.”

Waitman in the wings

The Steelers thought they had solved a punter issue that dates back for the better part of a decade when they signed Cameron Johnston to a three-year deal in March. Then Johnston suffered a season-ending right knee injury in the fourth quarter against Atlanta.

Pittsburgh signed Corliss Waitman to take over. Waitman should be right at home making his 2024 debut in Denver, where he served as the Broncos’ punter in 2022.

Given the growing pains the offense is likely to endure no matter who is at quarterback, Waitman needs to be a weapon if Pittsburgh is to win the field position battle. Waitman will also serve as the holder for Chris Boswell, who tied a franchise record by making six field goals against the Falcons.

___

AP Sports Writer Will Graves contributed to this report.

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Arnie Stapleton, The Associated Press