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Steelers' Justin Fields starts with Russell Wilson injured

ATLANTA -- Justin Fields started at quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Sunday's 18-10 season-opening victory against the Atlanta Falcons, while Russell Wilson is sidelined with a calf injury.

Fields was 17 of 23 for 156 yards, and he also had 57 rushing yards on 14 attempts in the victory. He did not account for any touchdowns or interceptions.

Wilson, who was limited in Thursday and Friday practices after aggravating the injury first sustained in training camp, was the Steelers' emergency quarterback. Kyle Allen served as the backup to Fields on Sunday.

Wilson took the field just before 10:30 a.m. ET Sunday and went through a series of throws for about 15 minutes with a pair of Steelers equipment staffers. Wilson appeared to move slowly through the warmup as he took several small dropbacks before firing off a pass. He warmed up in each end zone, finishing with fades to the corner.

He returned to the field just after 11 a.m. ET and chatted briefly with general manager Omar Khan. Wilson then resumed throwing, this time to quarterbacks coach Tom Arth. Fields warmed up nearby, throwing the ball with tight end Connor Heyward and wide receiver Calvin Austin III. Wilson still moved minimally through warmups, while Fields repped rollouts and dropbacks.

Both Wilson and Fields threw passes to wide receivers as they lined up for routes during warmups, but Fields took the first reps of the drill each time, followed by Allen and then Wilson.

Fields started 38 games in his three-year tenure with the Chicago Bears before being traded to the Steelers for a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick in the offseason. The sixth-round pick becomes a fourth if Fields plays more than 50% of the team's snaps this season.

Fields was 10-28 in those 38 starts with the Bears, throwing for 6,674 yards with 40 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. He also rushed for 2,220 yards and 14 touchdowns in Chicago.