JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Payton Wilson showed out on Sunday. In his one drive playing, Wilson manned the green dot for the first time in his career while playing.
Usually, it would be Patrick Queen running with the green dot, but for one drive, Wilson got a chance to do that. Head coach Mike Tomlin said before the game on Thursday he was excited to see Wilson get that chance.
So, how did it go? Wilson thinks it went about as well as it could have gone. In practice, the Steelers give everyone a microphone so they can talk to one another. In game, it is a bit different, but Wilson still thinks he aced the test.
“I’m just glad the coaches trusted me with that responsibility,” Wilson said. “It’s my second year and it was really fun. I loved giving the calls and communicating with my teammates. When PQ is out there, that will be him, but I’m just super honored to have that responsibility."
Wilson turned out to be a bit of loud communicator, putting the hammer down to make sure players were lined up, but that is something Wilson said comes naturally to him on the field.
After one play where he ranged over to tackle Jaguars wide receiver Dyami Brown on a screen, Wilson suplexed Brown and started trash-talking. That might be a new edge to his game as the Steelers’ defense plays with some trash talkers.
Wilson is out to prove he can become that three-down linebacker the Steelers drafted in the third round. They signed Malik Harrison and brought back Cole Holcomb so that either player could take that role left behind by Roberts.
Yet Wilson does not want this to be a three-man rotation like last year. Instead, he hopes he and Queen can be the all-down duo.
“Like I said since last year, whatever they need me to do, I’m gonna do it,” Wilson said. “Obviously, I want to be out there every single snap trying to prove myself.”
His first time with green dot impressed enough where he might be on his way to checking off more than a few boxes.
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