Russell Wilson struggled in his preseason debut against the Buffalo Bills, completing only a handful of passes as the Pittsburgh Steelers were defeated 9-3 on Saturday. The game, played without Bills quarterback Josh Allen, saw Wilson, who has been managing a calf injury throughout training camp, complete 8 of 10 attempts for 47 yards but faced significant pressure, taking three sacks over five series.
Justin Fields replaced Wilson and had a slightly better performance, completing 11 of 17 passes for 92 yards while also leading the team in rushing with 42 yards. Despite his efforts, Fields faced setbacks, including a failed fourth-down conversion that halted a potential scoring drive.
The Bills, led by coach Sean McDermott, were more engaged than in their previous loss as Tyler Bass kicked three field goals. Backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who played against his former team, managed 9 of 13 passes for 86 yards despite some boos from the crowd. The Bills relied heavily on their ground game, amassing 169 rushing yards against a Steelers defense missing star linebacker T.J. Watt for the night.
For the upcoming season, both teams are looking for improvement. Wilson is expected to lead the Steelers when they face Atlanta in Week 1, but his underwhelming performance raises questions about his readiness in this new offensive system. His longest throw was a mere 12 yards, primarily due to insufficient downfield opportunities, though wide receiver George Pickens nearly made a spectacular catch during the game.
In terms of injuries, the Bills dealt with concerns including receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who left with a neck injury, and Trubisky, tight end Quintin Morris, and defensive tackle Austin Johnson, who also exited early. Meanwhile, the Steelers lost running back Jaylen Warren to a hamstring issue and rookie linebacker Payton Wilson to a concussion.
Next week, the Bills will host Carolina, while the Steelers will travel to face Detroit.