The Pittsburgh Steelers showcased nearly everything fans were hoping to see in their impressive preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Wide receiver Roman Wilson came to life in the absence of DK Metcalf and Calvin Austin III, while Darnell Washington showcased his value to the offense. Even Broderick Jones and the offensive line had a respectable showing, giving Mason Rudolph a clean pocket to work with.
However, arguably the best player from the game for either team is one nobody is talking about. Payton Wilson only played 11 snaps early in the game as the Steelers' starting linebacker, but his impact was impressive.
Wilson was all over the field—reading and diagnosing plays before they even unfolded. The athletic linebacker used a lethal combination of speed and physicality to find himself in the middle of the play.
Despite only seeing the field early in the first quarter before his night was finished, Wilson recorded three solo tackles. This included an outstanding run stuff that nearly went down as a tackle for a loss. Wilson also showed his stopping power by nearly 'suplexing' an unsuspecting Dyami Brown.
Wilson was visibly the lead dog on Pittsburgh's defense that allowed just three points to Jacksonville's starting offense. What's impressive is that his outstanding showing came without the aid of players like Cam Heyward, T.J. Watt, Jalen Ramsey, Joey Porter Jr., or Darius Slay.
Wilson, almost single-handedly, contained Trevor Lawrence, Brian Thomas Jr., and Travis Hunter on the game's opening drive, and the Steelers' next star defender is already easy to see.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a star in the making with Payton Wilson
You don't have to look far to see Payton Wilson's impact on the team during his rookie season in 2024. The well-rounded linebacker made some impressive splash plays—including an interception deep down the sideline and a defensive touchdown. However, his consistency from play to play was just as notable.
Wilson was arguably Pittsburgh's best off-ball linebacker on a team that included Patrick Queen and Elandon Roberts last season. Now he's already building on his rookie campaign with a terrific start to the preseason.
The game already appears to be moving in slow motion for Wilson. And when you combine his excellent football instincts with unmatched athletic traits, you get a linebacker who has all the traits to become a star in this league. At 6-4 and roughly 240 pounds, Wilson possesses rare 4.43 speed... and it shows.
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Had it not been for a lengthy and concerning injury history in college, the N.C. State product would have been a lock first-round pick. Now, Wilson is already making 31 teams regret passing on him multiple times in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have an aging defense, and their superstars will soon come down to earth. But Wilson is ready to emerge as the next star defender on a team with a storied history of remarkable linebackers.
This isn't an overreaction to a preseason game; it's just more confirmation of what fans already knew: Payton Wilson is going to be an incredible football player.