In 2024, the Pittsburgh Steelers had two outstanding new gamers of their linebacker room in Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson. Now, with Elandon Roberts leaving in free company, Wilson’s in line for a beginning function. Heading into every of their second season with the Steelers, Queen has excessive hopes for himself and Wilson.
“I texted him perhaps like 4 days in the past, I used to be like, ‘You prepared? Lets do it.’ So, you realize, sky’s the restrict for us,” Queen mentioned Wednesday after he reported to coaching camp by way of Submit-Gazette Sports activities. “We simply gotta come over right here, put our head down, go to work, each single day attempt to get one % higher. I believe that’s the largest factor, we each keep locked in and push one another each single day. We’ll be effective.”
Payton Wilson particularly has generated numerous pleasure going into the 2025 season. With Elandon Roberts in entrance of him final 12 months, he did get some taking part in time however nowhere close to starting-level snaps. Regardless of that, he had some nice moments. Wilson was a positive tackler, and got here up with some large, clutch takeaways, a staple of the Steelers’ defensive tradition. Now, he will get an opportunity to begin, and he’s already being touted as a possible breakout candidate.
As for Queen, he’s in a little bit of a distinct spot. Coming over on a big contract final offseason, the ex-Raven didn’t actually dwell as much as expectations. In fact, the issues the protection encountered all through final season weren’t all his fault. Nonetheless, he spoke a couple of instances in regards to the lapses in communication throughout their season-ending five-game dropping streak. One beat author even urged these points might have began with him. Regardless, he and the remainder of the protection should be higher.
Queen is coming into camp with numerous motivation, although. Actually, the complete protection has to. It’s the highest-paid protection within the league, and with the best way the roster is constructed, it has to carry out prefer it for the Steelers to have any probability of snapping their six-game playoffs dropping streak.
That mentioned, the sky actually could be the restrict for Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson. We’ve seen Queen play at a high-level earlier than. He put collectively probably the greatest seasons of his profession with the Ravens in 2023, simply earlier than coming to Pittsburgh. Now in his second 12 months within the system, he is aware of he’s bought to be higher, and he completely might be.
And for Wilson, it’s onerous to not be excited. He had a stable rookie 12 months, one which’s beginning to make him really feel like a steal of a third-round choice. He has each probability to take the beginning function by the horns this season and actually take off. With a veteran who’s performed like one of the best within the league earlier than, and a sophomore coming off a powerful rookie season, expectations must be excessive for these two.
