The Pittsburgh Steelers are prepared to take the field for their season opener against the New York Jets. To nobody's surprise, the biggest storyline of the game is the Aaron Rodgers vs Justin Fields revenge tour. Fields was benched by Mike Tomlin last year, while Rodgers was released by the Jets.
We would like nothing more than to see the Aaron Rodgers of old emerge with a dominant showing in Week 1, but that can't be expected. The 41-year-old quarterback will require time to develop chemistry with his wide receivers if the Steelers' offense has any chance at becoming a well-oiled machine this year. Because of this, Rodgers is going to need some help from his defense.
There's just one skill player the Steelers need to focus on if they want to completely shut down the Jets' passing game—Garrett Wilson.
The Pittsburgh Steelers must force Justin Fields to throw to anyone but Garrett Wilson
Wilson isn't yet considered an elite NFL wide receiver, but he's the clear-cut No. 1 option in New York... and for good reason. Wilson has surpassed 80 receptions and 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons. Last year was his best yet.
With Rodgers throwing him the football in 2024, Wilson exploded for 101 receptions, 1,104 yards, and seven touchdowns. The 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year earned a massive four-year, $130 million contract during the 2025 offseason, and the Jets know exactly who to turn to on offense.
Wilson's lethal combination of speed and quickness makes him a matchup problem for most cornerbacks, as he can create separation with ease. But if the Steelers can slow him down, they could make the Jets a flightless offense in Week 1.
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Outside of Wilson, the Jets have a concerning outlook with their remaining pass catchers. Listed as starters alongside him are Allen Lazard (who turns 30 in December) and journeyman Josh Reynold (who's currently 30). Last year, neither receiver graded out higher than 90th among 133 qualifying NFL receivers, according to Pro Football Focus.
The depth at the position might be the worst in the league. After Reynolds and Lazard, the Jets have only Xavier Gipson and Arian Smith at receiver to turn to. Their best bet in the passing game—other than Wilson, of course—might be targeting rookie tight end Mason Taylor. However, Taylor is gearing up for his first-ever NFL game and could see some growing pains early in the season.
The game plan to shut down Wilson is simple: the Steelers need to double-cover the Jets' top playmaker.
Last season, Wilson played 781 snaps as an outside receiver and 240 from the slot, per PFF. Regardless of where he's lined up, the Steelers don't need to follow him with a cornerback like Jalen Ramsey or Joey Porter Jr. Rather, they should play inside-out coverage on him—with the slot cornerback taking away in-breaking routes and another defensive back playing with outside leverage.
This would force Justin Fields to make perfect, tight window throws (something he's not known for) or make him go to anyone else on offense (which would be a win for the Steelers).
The Pittsburgh Steelers never want to underestimate an opponent, and the New York Jets are capable of winning this game. But if Mike Tomlin and Teryl Austin deploy a game plan that takes Garrett Wilson out of the picture, it will be a daunting task for the Jets to move the ball against Pittsburgh's defense in Week 1.