Michael Vick, 35, gets to channel his former, faster self this week.

Vick, who rewrote the book on running quarterbacks, will simulate San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick for the Pittsburgh Steelers' defense in preparation for the Steelers' home opener against San Francisco on Sunday (1 p.m. ET).

Serious QB Speed Michael Vick and Colin Kaepernick are two of the most explosive running QBs of the past 15 years. Ht Wt 40 time Rush TD Vick 6-0 210 4.36 36 Kaepernick 6-4 230 4.53 10

While Vick rushed for 1,039 yards in 2006, Kaepernick is an explosive rushing threat with 1,578 yards on the ground from 2012 to '14, including a career-high 639 last season. Kaepernick needs a few more years to catch Vick's 6,010 career rushing yards, but Kaepernick's breakaway speed might be faster now since this is Vick's 15th year in the league.

In August, Vick signed a one-year deal to back up QB Ben Roethlisberger.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said the 49ers were impressive in their 20-3 win against Minnesota on Sunday thanks to misdirection and play-action plays off the running game of Kaepernick and tailback Carlos Hyde. Perhaps Vick will have the Steelers ready if Kaepernick tries to break one.