Wilson reports feeling like a rookie again

There has been no tangible evidence over the past four months that the Pittsburgh Steelers have a “quarterback controversy” or that there is any reason to believe that veteran Russell Wilson will not be the starter when the regular season begins in September.

Even if neither 18-year head coach Mike Tomlin nor 13-year veteran Wilson will confirm it formally.

“You guys (in the media) really think I am gonna back myself into a corner so that you can ask me daily about the rep allocations?” Tomlin cheekily said Wednesday from Saint Vincent. “No way. I have been on the job too long for that.”

The furthest Tomlin would go in discussing his quarterback depth chart on reporting day for training camp was that “nothing has changed” from his earlier declaration that Wilson was in “pole position” as QB1 in lieu of Justin Fields. Like Wilson, Fields is a multi-year NFL starting quarterback. Fields was acquired via trade from the Chicago Bears a week after the Steelers signed Wilson as a free agent.

As a 35-year-old and owner of a Super Bowl ring who is well-versed in dealing with media, Wilson, when asked about his status as the unquestioned starter, displayed the same elusiveness he has shown while escaping the pocket over a potential Hall of Fame career with the Seattle Seahawks and (for the past two years) Denver Broncos.

“I am just trying to be my best every day,” Wilson said. “That’s my focus: to help us win. That’s my focus every day.”

For Wilson, this reporting day was unlike any of the previous 12 he had experienced in the NFL. The Seahawks and Broncos are among what is now a large majority of teams that conduct their camps at their own facilities.

But checking into a dorm and practicing on college fields for the first time since leading Wisconsin to the Big Ten title in 2011 isn’t the only way Wilson feels youthful. After two subpar seasons in Denver that compelled the Broncos to pay him $39 million to not play for them in 2024, Wilson, for the first time since his 2012 rookie camp, must prove to a skeptical NFL community that he is a high-level pro starter.

“I remember when I was a rookie, I was coming in a third-round pick, the 75th pick overall, I was the thirdstring quarterback on the roster,” Wilson said. “And (yet) I was determined I was going to take that (starting) job.

“So that’s got to be the mentality every day. It still is the mentality every day. Try to be your best.”

Wilson, by far, has the most polished resume of any quarterback who has started for the Steelers since Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement. It’s clear Wilson has respect among his younger offensive teammates.

“Russ, his leadership and being part of winning (organizations), winning a Super Bowl, and his knowledge of the game is kind of what you need at that position,” running back Najee Harris said. “His experience and things like that.”

Said Tomlin: “He likes to work. … He is highly conditioned. He brings a unique approach to the weight room maybe for a guy who plays his position.”

Wilson’s presence gives a different feel to this year’s training camp, the third consecutive back in Westmoreland County following a twoyear, pandemic-necessitated move to Pittsburgh.

“It feels great to be back every year,” NFL reigning sacks leader T.J. Watt said. “This is Year 9 (in the NFL) for me — it’s crazy how fast it goes — but I was excited more than ever for that drive in to Latrobe. It’s a great time of year.”

The usual superlatives and expressions of optimism associated with reporting day dominated the thoughts from players in their sessions with media. Never has a team reported believing it is embarking on a dysfunctional, counterproductive camp.

But the only player on the roster with multiple Super Bowl rings put camp into perspective. Does linebacker Elandon Roberts look back on the 2016 and 2018 New England Patriots camps as if they were so unblemished that they served as precursors to Super Bowl victories some six months later?

“I think every team I have been on, they have been good training camps,” Roberts said. “No one comes out of training camp saying, ‘Aw yeah, it (stunk).’ ”