Russell Wilson Struggled through a forgettable preseason debut in Pittsburgh, mustering little before giving way to a more dynamic Justin Fields As is Steelers lost 9-3 josh allen-Less Buffalo Bills On Saturday.
The 35-year-old Wilson, who was slowed by a calf injury during training camp, completed 8 of 10 passes for 47 yards. He also had three sacks during five scoreless series.
Fields fared slightly better, going 11 of 17 for 92 yards. He also rushed for a team-high 42 yards, showing the versatility that led the Steelers (0-2) to trade for him in March, though he was stopped for a loss on a fourth-down run in the third quarter that ended a scoring threat and threw an incomplete pass on fourth down at the Buffalo 20 in the final minutes.
Tyler Bass He made three field goals for the Bills (1-1), who were more active against Pittsburgh than in last week’s loss to Chicago, even with Allen watching from the sideline.
Buffalo coach Sean McDermott kept his franchise quarterback out of the lineup because of a pregame storm that made the field slippery and forced fans to twice evacuate the stands.
Mitch Trubisky completed 9 of 13 passes and rushed for 86 yards while facing booing in the stadium where he spent the past two years. Buffalo rushed for 169 yards against a Steelers defense that was playing without star linebacker TJ WattWho were given night leave.
Allen will be ready to play on Sept. 8 when the AFC East champions play their first game at home against Arizona.
The Steelers are hoping to say the same about Wilson, whom coach Mike Tomlin has called “pole position” as the starter when Pittsburgh opens at Atlanta in Week 1. A poor performance in less than half the work in the new offense is unlikely to change that, though there’s plenty for Wilson and the starters to work on over the next three weeks.
Wilson’s longest carry was 12 yards, and that was on a short flip to the running back. Jaylen Warrenwho did most of the work on the game. The downfield passing that led to the Steelers taking a flyer on the nine-time Pro Bowler never materialized, although wide receiver George Pickens In the second quarter, he almost tried to catch the ball while doing a somersault on the sideline.
that campaign ended Chris Boswell a 52-yard field goal attempt, which was the closest the Steelers came to scoring in the game with Wilson.
Injuries
Bills: WR Marquez Valdes-ScantlingOne of several wide receivers looking for playing time, he exited in the first half with a neck injury. Trubisky (knee), TE Quentin Morris (Shoulder) and DT austin johnson (The calf) also went away quickly.
Steelers: RB Jaylen Warren suffered a hamstring injury in the first half and did not return. Rookie LB Peyton Wilson He went off in the second half due to an injury.
next
Bills: Host Carolina next Saturday.
Steelers: Travel to Detroit next Saturday.
Reporting by Associated Press.
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