Steelers' Payton Wilson: Plays big role in rookie campaign
Rotowire
Wilson tallied 78 tackles (49 solo), two pass defenses (including an interception), a forced fumble and two recovered fumbles -- one of which he returned for a touchdown -- over 17 games during the 2024 regular season.
After being selected by Pittsburgh in the third round of the NFL Draft, Wilson played in all 17 regular-season games for the team and was a key component of a three-player rotation at inside linebacker. He had two games with double-digit stops, and his biggest highlight may have been a fumble recovery for a touchdown in Week 13 against Cincinnati. Given his strong first campaign in the NFL, Wilson appears set to be key part of the Steelers' defense for at least the next few years.
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Steelers' Payton Wilson: Two fumble recoveries in win
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Wilson recorded three tackles (one solo) and two fumble recoveries in Sunday's 44-38 win over the Bengals.
Wilson didn't have the most productive day in terms of tackles, but he did finish off a pair of highlight plays for the Steelers' defense. He recovered a fumble in the second quarter after T.J. Watt's strip sack of Joe Burrow and then he returned a fumble for a 21-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter after Nick Herbig jarred it loose from Burrow. Wilson has now compiled 51 total tackles (29 solo), an interception, two fumble recoveries and a defensive touchdown over 12 games in 2024.
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Steelers' Payton Wilson: Leads team in tackles
Rotowire
Wilson made 10 tackles (four solo) in Sunday's 37-15 win over the Jets.
The rookie inside linebacker also played on more than 50 percent of the defensive snaps for the third time in four games. Wilson has recorded at least six tackles in each of the past four contests. He has 36 (22 solo) on the year.
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Steelers' Payton Wilson: Past concussion
Rotowire
Wilson (concussion) wasn't on the Steelers' injury report Wednesday ahead of Sunday's Week 1 contest against the Falcons, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
The 2024 third-round pick out of NC State underwent a concussion evaluation in mid-August, but it now appears he's passed protocol and returned to the field. With Wilson back at full health, he's expected to be one of the Steelers' top rotational inside linebackers during his rookie campaign.
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Steelers' Payton Wilson: Pittsburgh ends fall in third round
Rotowire
The Steelers selected Wilson in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, 98th overall.
Wilson would have gone much earlier than this if not for his extremely long injury history at North Carolina State. Wilson's right knee and both shoulders have required multiple surgeries at various points, and he heads into the NFL a 24-year-old rookie after spending so much time on the shelf. His strengths as a prospect are obvious -- at 6-foot-4, 233 pounds Wilson is freakishly fast (4.43-second 40-yard dash), and this lends well both to his pass-rushing and his coverage abilities. Wilson will never be the linebacker you want lining up in the middle -- he stands very upright and his arms are bizarrely short, making it easy for guards to grab him first -- but in the open field, very few ballcarriers can lose Wilson's pursuit.
