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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson said he expects to play in the team’s final preseason game against the Detroit Lions on Saturday.

Wilson, who has battled a calf injury during training camp, was largely ineffective in five series leading the offense against the Buffalo Bills last week.

“Yeah, we’re all playing. I’m excited to get back on the field,” Wilson told reporters Wednesday. “Last week was great to be out there for the first time, putting more pads on and everything else. And obviously we didn’t get the win and everything else, but I think the big thing for us is just executing and us making our plays and doing our thing.”

Wilson was 8-for-10 passing for 47 yards against the Bills, converting just one of six third downs in the 9-3 loss. He was sacked three times. He sat out Pittsburgh’s first preseason game with the injury.

“I think the most important thing for us to accomplish is to play efficient football, move the ball and down the field,” Wilson said. “Obviously we want to celebrate in the end zone. That would be fun. We need to make sure that happens, and that’s the standard of football we want to be able to play in.”

Wilson suffered the injury on the eve of the team’s first training camp practice and it has caused him to miss practices as well as the preseason opener against the Houston Texans. The nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback is in his first season with the Steelers after he was released in March by the Denver Broncos two years into a five-year, $245 million contract.

Entering his 13th season, Wilson spent his first 10 years with the Seattle Seahawks, leading the club to back-to-back Super Bowl appearances and the Seahawks’ only league title in Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014. He spent the past two seasons with the Broncos, whom he guided to an 11-19 record in 30 starts. He was benched by Sean Payton for the last two games of the 2023 season.

Wilson has passed for 43,653 yards with 334 touchdowns and 106 interceptions in 188 career games.

–Field Level Media