In years past, the Steelers showed up on report day for training camp and went through a conditioning test that was little more than a formality. Do some running from end zone to end zone, prove your fitness to the strength staff and coaches, then move on.
But with a new strength and conditioning staff in place for this season, with fresh ideas come some growing pains, too — quite literally in the case of Russell Wilson.
After missing a second consecutive practice session to begin his first camp with the Steelers, Wilson said Friday the calf issue that popped up was from Wednesday’s lengthy conditioning session that followed all players arriving. Wilson was pushing a weight sled and “tweaked it a little bit.”
“Just working hard, and sometimes things happen,” Wilson said. “The good news is that I feel good. We’ll get there. We have time. I’m getting a lot of the mental reps and throwing stuff on the side and post-practice and all that, as well.”
Wilson, who turns 36 in November, said the Steelers did a bunch of drills Wednesday afternoon, and on his fourth or fifth time pushing a sled, he “felt a little something.” He believes he’d “definitely” be able to play if the team had a game.
“We’ve got a great training room, great people, great doctors, so I feel good. It’s nothing to panic about or be too worried about at all,” said Wilson, who did admit it’s been a while since he went through that kind of exercise.
Wilson lamented missing practice because he hates not being out there with his teammates and, on top of that, only being able to experience training camp at Saint Vincent College as a partial participant. There was plenty of excitement and anticipation for Wilson’s debut here in Latrobe, but he praised coach Mike Tomlin and the team medical staff for being “super careful so nothing gets worse.”
The way Tomlin described the situation Thursday was Wilson woke up that morning and “his calf was tight.” Tomlin also referred to him as day to day and mostly downplayed the severity, though he hasn’t always been transparent in the past about injuries — particularly in camp when he isn't required to be.
Wilson eluded a question about whether he has a target date for getting back on the field, saying he wants to get back every day. He’s been a model of durability throughout his 12-year career, never missing more than three games in a season. His longest stretch of inactivity came after surgery on the middle finger of his throwing hand in 2021.
As for the new methods the Steelers are implementing in their weight room and beyond, they hired Phil Matusz from Boston College this offseason as their new head strength and conditioning coach to replace Marcel Pastoor in that position. Longtime staffer Garrett Giemont remains senior conditioning coordinator, but Justus Galac replaced Rodain Delus as an assistant under Matusz, and Roderick Moore holds the new title of sports science coordinator/strength and conditioning.
“They came in working,” third-year defensive end DeMarvin Leal said. “They set their own standard to fit into this culture. They’ve been doing that, and I feel like they’ve done an amazing job.”
Leal thinks they’ve done more stretching and mobility routines to help with recovery. The first-day “run test” was considerably longer, with Leal calling it “a lot more detailed.” It also included stationary bikes and was sort of broken into “four quarters” of training, per Leal.
Tomlin acknowledged the Steelers are trying different things to evaluate the readiness of the team and he’s always open to outside perspectives. Perhaps it will benefit the Steelers in the long run, but in the moment, QB1 is watching from the sideline while Justin Fields gets a chance to seize his opportunity.
“It’s a physical game. We’re working hard, and stuff happens,” Wilson said. “The reality is, the big question is: How fast can you get back? That’s always the mentality you have to have, and I’ve always had it.
“I’ll be back sooner than later.”
Brian Batko: bbatko@post-gazette.com and @BrianBatko on X
First Published: July 26, 2024, 6:32 p.m.
Updated: July 27, 2024, 1:42 a.m.