Russell Wilson is back to practicing at full speed. When the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback will get back to actually playing is another matter.

And the eventual answer might have little do to with his health.

While Wilson stressed Thursday the calf injury that’s sidelined him for the opening month of the season is improving, he stopped short of saying he would be available as the backup to Justin Fields on Sunday night when the Steelers (3-1) host the Dallas Cowboys (2-2).

“We’re listening to the doctors, listening to Coach and just trying to make sure that they’re good and I’m good,” Wilson said.

The 35-year-old initially hurt the calf when training camp began in late July. He tweaked it on Sept. 5 and the Steelers have been cautious about bringing him along slowly. He spent multiple weeks as a limited participant in practice. On Thursday, the nine-time Pro Bowler went live during 11-on-11 drills for the first time in a month.

“I feel strong, you know, I feel confident,” Wilson said. “I love the process that we’ve (had) in just in terms of just making sure that I’m really ready to go. And, you know, I feel like I’m right there.”

Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin said earlier this week the team will evaluate Wilson’s “ability to move and function and protect himself” before figuring out when he might be ready to go.

The more looming question for Tomlin – one he has declined to answer in any detail – is what will happen whenever Wilson is given the OK to play. Fields has performed well in Wilson’s absence, leading Pittsburgh to its best start since 2020, drawing praise from both Tomlin and first-year offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.

Fields’ best game of the season – statistically anyway – was last Sunday’s loss to Indianapolis, in which he led three second-half touchdown drives that nearly rallied the Steelers from a 17-deficit.

“I thought in that second half what was cool to watch as a coach and a play-caller when somebody gets in that kind of flow, he damn near took the game over,” Smith said. “When that happens and you feel it with a player, it doesn’t matter what I called. You felt him rolling.”

Fields finished with 367 total yards (312 passing and 55 rushing) and three touchdowns (two rushing, one passing), the highest total yardage output by a Steelers quarterback in nearly six years.

BROWNS: Those first moments for Nick Chubb back on the field, back among his Browns teammates, were astounding.

“It didn’t feel real,” Chubb said. “It felt like a dream.”

More than a year after Chubb’s left knee was wrecked on a routine running play for the second time, the Pro Bowl back returned to practice this week, a major step in a comeback few doubted would happen.

“I feel like I’ve been up and battling this for a while now,” Chubb said Thursday, adding his surgically repaired knee withstood his first workout. “It was great to get all that off my shoulders and finally get back out there.”

Back in his No. 24 jersey and orange helmet, Chubb practiced Wednesday for the first time since undergoing surgery after he got hurt on a hit in Week 2 last season at Pittsburgh. The 28-year-old needed two operations to repair two ligaments, meniscus and his medial capsule.

• Browns defensive end Alex Wright will miss the remainder of the season with a triceps injury sustained in the second week of the season.

Wright posted on social media that he will undergo surgery. The team confirmed Wright’s procedure ahead of practice.

HALL OF FAME: Versatile running back Roger Craig, former MVP Ken Anderson and key member of the Steel Curtain defense L.C. Greenwood are among the players who advanced to the next stage in the Seniors category for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

The Hall released a list of 60 players who remained from the original list of 183 nominees made last month by a newly created Seniors Screening Committee.

A nine-person Senior Blue Ribbon Committee will now begin the process of reducing that list to the three finalists to be considered by the full selection committee in early 2025. The three seniors will be grouped with one coach and contributor with at least one and no more than three of those finalists getting in based on voting.

JETS: Right tackle Morgan Moses returned to practice as a limited participant, but was ruled out for New York’s game against Minnesota in London on Sunday.

Moses, who injured his left knee against New England on Sept. 19, will miss his second game after the Jets announced he wouldn’t travel with the team Thursday night.

CHIEFS: Kansas City put Rashee Rice on injured reserve, sidelining him for at least four weeks and likely longer, after their leading wide receiver hurt his knee when quarterback Patrick Mahomes collided with him trying to make a tackle last weekend.

Mahomes had just thrown an interception to the Chargers’ Kristian Fulton and both players were trying to chase him down. Rice got there first and stripped Fulton of the ball, just as Mahomes dived toward the pile and hit his teammate just above his right knee.

Mahomes said Thursday that he didn’t know he was the one who caused the injury until he saw the replay on the scoreboard. He said he felt bad about what happened.

GIANTS: Rookie receiver Malik Nabers missed his second straight practice because of a concussion and his chances of making the trip West are uncertain.

Coach Brian Daboll said Nabers is making progress but he remains in the concussion protocol. He cannot play unless he is cleared by an independent neurologist.

Nabers, the No. 6 overall pick in the draft, has been the focal point of the offense. His 35 catches leads the league and his 386 yards receiving are second. He is tied for third with three touchdown receptions.