Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers have been playing in the NFL for a long time. They’re used to the big games and high stakes for their teams. However, this time it feels different for them personally.
When Wilson, now 35, steps onto the field as the starter for the Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2) for the first time on Sunday night against Rodgers and the New York Jets (2-4), he will do so with doubts surrounding him that he didn’t face in his first 12 seasons.
He’ll also be facing a familiar opponent. Wilson and Rodgers faced each other many times in the 2010s and early 2020s while playing for Seattle and Green Bay. Now, both are trying to prove themselves in new places, which still feels a bit strange.
“We’ve had battles along the way and everything else,” Wilson said. “I really respect how he throws the football, how he goes about throwing it and it’s very special to watch.”
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin seems to share this respect for Wilson, having brought him to Pittsburgh just after free agency started in March. Wilson had been paid nearly $38 million by Denver to leave.
However, the excitement around Wilson faded a bit during the summer and early fall due to a calf injury, which allowed Justin Fields to step in and help lead Pittsburgh to a tie for first in the AFC North.
Now, Tomlin is looking for more from an offense that ranks 26th in yards. He believes Wilson still has the ability to improve the team, even if his mobility isn’t what it used to be.
How Wilson plays could determine the direction of Pittsburgh’s season. The same is true for New York, where the Jets have made big changes recently to boost their team and help their 40-year-old quarterback.
The Jets fired coach Robert Saleh on October 8 and on Tuesday brought back Davante Adams, a longtime teammate of Rodgers, by trading for the three-time All-Pro wide receiver from Las Vegas.
“It has been strange, but really fun to see my friend,” Rodgers said about Adams, who is currently staying with him.
Rodgers hopes to see Adams on the field, especially in the end zone, as scoring could greatly help a team with the second-best defense in the league. The situation is similar for the Steelers, who have allowed the second-fewest points in the league.
Tomlin thinks his team has been solid but not outstanding. If Wilson can tap into some of the “let Russ cook” magic from his best years, Pittsburgh believes it can catch up to the top teams in the AFC that it has been pursuing.
Tomlin’s curiosity and respect for Wilson led him to choose him as the starter. Wilson is determined to make a move that might seem risky now look smart in the end.
“I came here for one reason (and) that was to win a Super Bowl. … I think we have that opportunity,” Wilson said. “But we got to do the work. There’s a lot more to go.”
