Saunders’ Steelers Training Camp Takeaways: Payton Wilson Preventing, Flying Round and Having Enjoyable

Steelers Analysis•Steelers Training Camp

UNITY TWP, Pa. — The 2025 season didn’t go nicely for Payton Wilson.

The Pittsburgh Steelers linebackers was one of many staff’s most-promising younger gamers coming into final season, after he established himself with protection bonafides as a third-round rookie out of NC State in 2024.

Entering his second season, the expectation was that Wilson would take a step ahead and be capable of earn a three-down position alongside Patrick Queen, serving to to ease the lack of Elandon Roberts to free company.

That didn’t occur, with Wilson spending many of the season yielding enjoying time in base protection and on apparent run downs to Cole Holcomb and Malik Harrison.

This time round, issues are totally different for Wilson. The similar problem awaits him, by way of needing to show he may be higher and extra strong towards the run. Now, the staff has paid outdoors linebacker Nick Herbig $100 million with nowhere for him to go behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, which means Wilson can even be competing with Herbig for snaps. Furthermore, Wilson additionally must be taught a brand new protection beneath Patrick Graham.

Of the entire components of the Steelers protection which have modified from the 3-4 run by Mike Tomlin and Teryl Austin to the model of that protection run by Graham, issues could have modified essentially the most for the staff’s off-ball linebackers, and so Wilson and the others have had quite a lot of work to do to get able to showcase their abilities.

The early outcomes, although, have been sturdy. Queen and Wilson each appear like higher gamers to date than they did in 2025, and Wilson, specifically, is exhibiting a willingness to belief in his instincts, put his foot within the floor and be aggressive that we haven’t seen a lot of in his first two seasons.

“I was just talking to some of the guys today, and I just finally get to be myself,” Wilson mentioned after observe. “I’m in a sense, [getting to] fly around, have fun, talk a little crap here and there. And the fear of failure is not there or the fear of mistakes isn’t there anymore. [Graham] is continually relied and told us that if you’re gonna make a mistake, make it 100% in football.”

Wilson will definitely make errors as a younger participant, however that aggression could be what has been missing from his recreation on the NFL stage so far, and if Graham has been in a position to unlock that in him, it should go a great distance towards securing the way forward for the Steelers linebacker place, that with Queen in a contract 12 months, in any other case seems very unsure.

Getting Heated

The first scrap of observe broke out on Tuesday between Sebastian Joseph-Day and Troy Fautanu. Thursday featured a bunch extra.

Patrick Queen and Ben Skowronek acquired into it over what Skowronek perceived to be a late hit from Queen. Then Payton Wilson and Skowronek had been jawing. Lew Nichols face-planted D’Shawn Jamison after a pass-block rep. DeShon Elliott blasted DK Metcalf with a ferocious hit, after which instantly apologized. The similar factor occurred when Asante Samuel slung Pat Freiermuth to the bottom.

“We’re getting into the dog days of camp,” Wilson mentioned. “People are tired, people are sore, we’re just competing. We love each other, brothers fight all the time.So if someone messes up, we get into it a little bit, then we’ll be in here eating lunch in 30 minutes together.”

‘We Got Bigger People’

One of the extra notable issues to be listed on the Steelers’ first depth chart of coaching camp on Wednesday was Yahya Black being the staff’s beginning nostril sort out.

Head coach Mike McCarthy mentioned to not take a lot inventory in that doc on Thursday morning, however Black has been working extra at nostril sort out than defensive finish this 12 months, and has additionally gotten some work with the primary staff, even when he’s usually been rotating in behind Keeanu Benton.

“He definitely moves better than I was aware of before I got here,” McCarthy mentioned of Black. “So, there’s a lot there to work with. We are a three-four defense, that’s our starting point and the ability to stop the run is always at the forefront of how you want to play, and definitely play in our division. But obviously, if you look at the numbers, sub defense is important. So, the ability to play in a four-man line is where he needs to continue to grow.”

“Why, yeah, that’s a big human, he does a great job, it’s really hard to move him. If you’re gonna put big people in, we got bigger people, you know what I mean? So he’s a great person, his attitude is amazing, and he plays really hard.”

2-Minute Drill

🏈 The third staff took the 2-minute drill, with Drew Allar at quarterback, the ball on the 50-yard line, 1:30 on the clock and one timeout.

🏈 The first play was a handoff to the precise for Travis Homer. Jacoby Windmon made a pleasant play to return down from his linebacker spot and cease Homer for no achieve.

🏈 Allar regarded to his left for Levi Wentz on an in-breaking route, but it surely was damaged up by a crashing Tamon Lynum.

🏈 Allar fired proper to Joaquin Davis on a slant route in entrance of Daryl Porter Jr., for what would have been a primary down, however there was an offsides penalty on the offense that negated the play.

🏈 Now dealing with third and 15, Allar regarded on the left facet for Kaden Wetjen, however the move went proper via his fingers. Carson Bruener additionally had good protection on the play.

🏈 On fourth down, Allar held onto the ball and located Wetjen crossing all the best way from the precise to the left, however his move was a little bit bit low and a little bit bit forward of him, and Wetjen couldn’t make what would have been a tough catch.

The drive ended with the offense ending 5 yards farther away than they began.

Today: DEFENSE 1, OFFENSE 0,
Training Camp: DEFENSE 6, OFFENSE 3, TIME-LIMIT DRAW 1

Quarterback Shakedown

The hype coming into coaching camp was a backup quarterback battle between Mason Rudolph and Will Howard.

If there may be such a battle, no person has wanted to inform Rudolph. The Steelers’ No. 2 quarterback has taken comparatively few reps all through camp, and has regarded fairly darn good in these small samples. Head coach Mike McCarthy singled out Rudolph earlier than observe on Thursday when he was requested about gamers who’ve exceeded his expectations.

“Mason would be the first one,” McCarthy mentioned. “Mason Rudolph, I can’t tell you how pleased I am with him. I just think that quarterbacks play a while in this league, so the experience that he’s gained, I think, is incredibly valuable to us. But the footwork is different. So, any time you ask an experienced player to change footwork or things like that and his fundamentals, and he’s doing a really nice job. [The] throws are better than I knew. Just like anything in the quarterback room, you really don’t know until you stand next to them or you’re out there on the field, really how each guy throws the ball.”

Howard, alternatively, continues to be one thing of a combined bag at camp. He’s had good days and unhealthy — an interception in a 2-minute drill early in camp was a giant setback — however he has seemingly but to return near going toe-to-toe with Rudolph.

Injury Updates

🏈 Offensive sort out Max Iheanachor left observe with what seemed to be a neck or shoulder harm. Brandin Echols injured his left ankle late in observe and didn’t return.

🏈 Defensive sort out Logan Lee was at observe, however was not sporting pads for the third straight day. Eli Heidenreich and Steven Jones additionally didn’t observe.

🏈 Cornerbacks Donte Kent, Joey Porter Jr. and Jalen Ramsey stay on the PUP listing and didn’t observe on Monday.

🏈 DeShon Elliott continues to be considerably restricted as he works his manner again from a season-ending hamstring harm final 12 months.

Notes From Team Periods

🏈 Jack Sawyer had one among his greatest days of coaching camp, torching Broderick Jones for a fast sack and likewise incomes one other one afterward.

🏈 Windmon had his first standout day of coaching camp, making a number of run stops and likewise getting a fast strain that blew up a move play late in observe.

🏈 Germie Bernard had one among his nicest catches of coaching camp on an out route from Howard, in entrance of Daryl Porter Jr.

🏈 With Heidenreich out, D’Shawn Jamison was again deep on the beginning kickoff return unit, alongside Wetjen.

🏈 Roman Wilson was on the second unit, and fumbled one return when Max Hurleman made a superb play to punch the ball free.

🏈 Rookie tight finish Lake McRee additionally put the ball on the bottom. He acquired it again, however that’s not going to assist his case for the 53-man roster.

Mentioned In This Article: Drew Allar Jack Sawyer Mason Rudolph Max Iheanachor Paton Wilson Patrick Queen Pittsburgh Steelers Steelers Steelers Training Camp prime Yahya Black