ATLANTA (AP) — Russell Wilson’s debut with the Pittsburgh Steelers will have to wait.

Wilson, a nine-time Pro Bowler who signed with the Steelers after being released by the Denver Broncos, was unable to play in Sunday’s season-opening game against the Atlanta Falcons because of a calf injury.

Another Steelers rookie, Justin Fields, was expected to start in Wilson’s place.

The 35-year-old Wilson earned the starting place during the preseason, just to aggravate a calf injury in training on Thursday.

Wilson said he “felt a little weird” during individual drills. Coach Mike Tomlin pulled him from team practice as a precaution.

Wilson first injured his calf during a conditioning test when the Steelers arrived for training camp in late July. He missed Friday’s practice and continued to receive treatment until the game, but it wasn’t enough to get him back on the field against the Falcons.

Fields moved to the top of the depth map for Week 1, with Kyle Allen listed as a backup. Wilson was designated as the inactive third quarterback.

Wilson signed with the Steelers after two dismal seasons in Denver, where his career fell apart after a stellar decade with the Seattle Seahawks.

To strengthen their stagnating offense, the Steelers have completely rebuilt the quarterback position and also signed Fields, a first-round pick of the Chicago Bears for 2021.

Fields said the game plan wouldn’t change with a different quarterback, but his running ability gave him a dimension that Wilson no longer possesses as he enters his 13th season.

Pittsburgh also has a new offensive coordinator: They hired Arthur Smith after he was fired as head coach of the Falcons in January.

“Arthur has been in a number of offenses,” Fields said. “He’s played with different styles of quarterbacks, quarterbacks that can run and quarterbacks that aren’t as good with their feet. So it’s more about the plays and how he uses them for us.”

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