Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson will be a full participant in practice on Wednesday, coach Mike Tomlin announced.

Wilson has been inactive for the Steelers’ first five games of the season as he works his way back from a strained calf that he sustained in training camp.

“We’re in a little bit different place as I stand here today with Russ,” Tomlin said on Tuesday. “Tomorrow will be the first Wednesday that he’ll be a scheduled full participant, we’ll see where that leads us. First, we’ll see if he’s, obviously, able to pull it off and get through the session. And if he does, what (does) the quality of that work look like? The ability to protect himself, etc. — some of the conversations that we’ve been having, but having more in a hypothetical way.

“He’s at the point of health now where we can work on a Wednesday without restrictions. And so, we’ll do so.”

Tomlin noted that quarterback Justin Fields will continue to take first-team practice snaps, however.

“(Wilson will) get reps with the second unit as to not disrupt Justin’s preparation,” Tomlin said. “And then we’ll see where all of that leads us as we push through the week.”

Wilson, 35, was named the starter following the final preseason game in August but was limited in practice before the Week 1 opener at Atlanta. His status did not change from there, with Fields leading the Steelers to three wins to open the season before the team dropped its last two games.

Pittsburgh (3-2) visits the Las Vegas Raiders (2-3) on Sunday.

A nine-time Pro Bowl selection, Wilson last started a game on Christmas Eve before the Denver Broncos benched him for the final two 2023 regular-season games in a contract dispute that led to the former Super Bowl winner being released. He signed with the Steelers in March after also visiting the New York Giants.

Fields, 25, has completed a career-high 67.6 percent of his passes for 961 yards with five touchdowns and one interception in five starts. He has rushed for 172 yards and three scores.

–Field Level Media

The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of five 3-0 teams in the NFL, but their quarterback situation remains up for discussion.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin indicated the team will “have a decision to make” when Russell Wilson recovers from a calf injury and becomes available for the first-string job again.

Justin Fields has helped Pittsburgh start undefeated, but close wins over the Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers weren’t enough for him to get a long-term vote of confidence from Tomlin.

Asked Tuesday why he has yet to name Fields the team’s permanent starter, Tomlin replied, “Because there’s no need.” He said Fields will enter the building Wednesday with the mindset that he’s the starter — for Week 4 against the Indianapolis Colts (1-2), anyway.

“Sometimes in this business, man, there’s a myriad of complex decisions that need to be made,” Tomlin said. “I’ve learned to make ‘em when it’s appropriate and it’s not necessary as we sit here right now. When Russ gets to an appropriate point of health and we have a decision to make, I’ll make it and I’ll announce it and I’ll be really transparent about it, but until then, I don’t care how many ways you guys ask me, I got no intentions of making the decision that’s unnecessary at this juncture.”

Fields has completed 73.3 percent of his passes this year for 518 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception. He’s been sacked six times but also has rushed for 90 yards and a score.

Both Fields and Wilson were acquired by Pittsburgh in the offseason, the former in a trade with the Chicago Bears and the latter as a free agent on a one-year contract.

–Field Level Media

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has two starter-quality quarterbacks on his roster, but only one can start.

Tomlin offered some insight Sunday on newcomers Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, Tomlin’s potential starters after the team traded Kenny Pickett.

“We’ve been very transparent about the pecking order, at least to start,” Tomlin told reporters at the NFL’s league meetings in Orlando, Fla. “I just think that provides clarity for all parties involved.”

That clarity indicates Wilson, 35, has the inside track after a roller-coaster two years with the Denver Broncos.

“Russell is a veteran, man,” Tomlin said. “He’s got a proven process of readiness. He’s been in this league a long time, and he’s capable of rallying troops, receivers, tight ends and running backs.”

Tomlin said Wilson, who reached two Super Bowls with the Seattle Seahawks, winning one, has a grasp of how to cultivate leadership over an extended amount of time — something that will provide a benefit for Fields as the quarterbacks “do some of the informal things at this time of the year.”

Fields, 25, threw for 2,562 yards, 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 13 games last season for the Chicago Bears. He added 657 rushing yards and four scores.

He was traded to the Steelers this offseason in exchange for a sixth-round pick in 2025 that could become a fourth-rounder if certain parameters are met.

Tomlin stopped short of calling Wilson his Week 1 starter.

“Rest assured, when it’s time to compete, Justin will (be) given an opportunity to compete,” he said, “and we’ll allow those guys to sort themselves out. But I thought it was appropriate to describe it in a way for when we get started. Russell’s in pole position, and I think his body of work justifies that.

“And just from my conversations with Justin, he is excited about working alongside Russell and learning some of those veteran tricks of the trade from … a guy who has been around for over a decade.”

The Steelers finished 10-7 last season, losing 31-17 to the Buffalo Bills in the wild-card playoff round.

–Field Level Media