Payton Wilson could have chosen the safe route, but he wasn’t interested in that.
The rookie linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers saw Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill coming towards him and knew what was about to happen. Wilson believed the Steelers’ scout team had run the same play “100 times” during practice.
Each time, Wilson had overplayed the pass route, trying to stay ahead of whoever was playing Hill on that day.
“It’s practice, so you want it to be perfect,” Wilson explained.
However, when the real game came last Sunday, with Pittsburgh holding a slim five-point lead in the fourth quarter and the Ravens ready to gain momentum after a turnover, Wilson did something different. Instead of just ensuring Hill didn’t get past him, Wilson decided to match Hill’s pace.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson trusted Hill and threw a deep pass down the left sideline, which seemed like it would land perfectly in Hill’s hands.
But the ball didn’t stay there. In one smooth move, Wilson leapt on top of Hill and snatched the ball away with his right hand, making his first career interception. This play helped Pittsburgh hold on to a 18-16 win.
“I took a chance because I kind of wanted to make a play in a big-time moment,” Wilson said. “It worked out.”
This play was just another example of Wilson’s strong performance since the Steelers drafted him last spring. The Butkus Award winner had fallen to the third round due to concerns about his injury history, especially a report that suggested he didn’t have an ACL in his right knee.
Wilson confirmed that he does indeed have his ACL, despite tearing it twice, once in high school and again before his first year with North Carolina State. No matter the injuries, Wilson has proven to be a valuable linebacker for the Steelers, particularly on third downs, thanks to his speed (he ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine).
Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, watching from the coach’s box, saw Wilson’s football intelligence show when the team needed it most.
“When you see that happen, you’re happy for him because you know it’s coming together for him,” Austin said. “The game makes sense.”
And when the game doesn’t make sense, Wilson makes sure to ask questions until he figures it out.
With the Steelers facing a short week, Wilson asked All-Pro teammate T.J. Watt for advice on how to recover quickly for a game against the Cleveland Browns (2-8) just a few days later.
During team meetings, Wilson is always asking questions to learn and find ways to improve. He’s not one to just rely on his talent, instead challenging himself to find better, more efficient ways to do his job.
“He doesn’t go on like, ‘OK, I’m going to get on and do this (my) way,’” veteran linebacker Elandon Roberts said. “He wants to understand why and he’s very humble, so he just asks whatever he feels like he needs to ask.”
Wilson’s presence on the team means Pittsburgh now has strong depth at inside linebacker, a position the Steelers have been lacking for a while. Roberts and Patrick Queen bring experience and stability on early downs, while Wilson’s athleticism and versatility make him especially valuable in passing situations.
Although Wilson’s playing time has varied depending on the opponent — he’s played between 13 and 44 snaps in each of the 10 games — his dedication and attitude have been constant. As defensive tackle Cam Heyward said, Wilson isn’t someone who does “the bare minimum.”
It also helps that Wilson shares a locker next to Roberts and Queen, who have both taken him under their wing and guided him.
“They’re just so smart,” Wilson said. “There’s no egos in our room. So it’s super cool to see that they help me out.”
The bond within the linebacker group was clear when Roberts and Queen were among the first to celebrate with Wilson after his big interception.
Asked if he was surprised by how Wilson made such a difficult play look easy, Roberts raised his eyebrows in disbelief.
“How tall is this man?” Roberts asked about his 6-foot-4 teammate. “What did he run at the combine? Exactly. He’s got all the attributes to make that play. And he works his (tail) off too.”
