Russell Wilson struggles in preseason debut

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers faced a disappointing preseason debut, falling 9-3 to the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. Veteran quarterback Russell Wilson, hindered by a calf injury throughout training camp, completed 8 of 10 passes for just 47 yards before being replaced by Justin Fields. Fields showed some promise, finishing 11 of 17 for 92 yards and leading the team with 42 rushing yards, but his performance was marred by missed opportunities, including a failed fourth-down run that halted a scoring drive. The Bills, playing without star quarterback Josh Allen, managed to secure the win thanks to kicker Tyler Bass, who successfully converted three field goals. Buffalo coach Sean McDermott opted to rest Allen after a pregame thunderstorm made the field conditions challenging. Despite the absence of their franchise quarterback, the Bills appeared more engaged than in their previous loss to Chicago, indicating a potential turnaround as they prepare for their season opener against Arizona on September 8. For the Steelers, Wilson's lackluster performance raises questions about his readiness as the starting quarterback. Coach Mike Tomlin has indicated that Wilson remains the frontrunner for the position, but the team has three weeks to refine their game before facing Atlanta in Week 1. Wilson's longest completion was a mere 12 yards, highlighting the need for improvement in the new offensive scheme. In addition to Wilson's struggles, the Bills faced injury concerns, with wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling leaving the game with a neck injury, and several other players, including quarterback Mitch Trubisky, exiting early. The Bills will host Carolina next Saturday, while the Steelers will travel to Detroit for their next preseason matchup.