**A new role:** Linebacker Payton Wilson went out to midfield on Sunday night for the coin toss as the special teams captain for the game, assuming the role that was held by Miles Killebrew before he went out with a season-ending knee injury.
It's a role Wilson takes seriously and is proud to represent the unit.
"In our Wednesday team meeting, they told us in the team meeting," said Wilson of when he found out. "So just really honored about that. Thanks to Coach (Mike) Tomlin. Thanks to Miles, he's a great leader. He's been a great role model. So just hopefully I can fill his role."
"We got in the team meeting on Wednesday. Coach Tomlin went over it and then it went on from there. It's a great blessing and a great honor."
Wilson understands it comes with responsibility, and he is not shying away from it.
"I would just say being a leader out there on teams," said Wilson. "Miles was the voice, everything on teams. Everything we did on teams, Miles broke the huddles down, ran our meetings sometimes, certain things like our Saturday punt meeting and things like that. So just taking that stuff over and being a voice in the room when we're struggling a little bit or something doesn't go our way.
"Miles was always a great voice for us in there. He was always great to everybody in the room. So just trying to fill that role."
With the Steelers losing the last two games, having players step into leadership roles is key, keeping everyone together and on the same page and making sure they respond to the adversity.
Wilson is ready to do his part.
"When things start going south, they really start going south," said Wilson. "We came out flying, had a really good first half. And then once things started going south, it felt like everything just fell apart.
"So, we can't really ride that roller coaster of emotions. Especially when the defense is on the field, we just got to do our job the whole game. It can't be one quarter, one good drive, and then the rest of the game, we have to do it the whole game.
"We've got a lot of ball left, so we just have to build. We have to get better on defense. We've got to do our jobs better, we have to do our responsibilities better, and we just have to play harder and more physical.
"We've just got to do our job. I feel like Coach is putting us in the right position. Sometimes we're just not making plays. Obviously, offensive coaches are great minds too. So, they make great calls, but we just have to execute. We've just got to out execute the other team."