Just two games into his second season, and his first as a full-time starter, Payton Wilson is already facing doubts. Doubts about his readiness for the role, about his size and ability to hold up against the run. Heading into Week 3, the conversation is whether the team will use other linebackers to eat into his snaps.
Maybe even using more defensive backs to get him off the field seems plausible. The Steelers haven’t been using their dime package, likely due to injuries. But with Jabrill Peppers, that might change, at Wilson’s expense. Or we could see Cole Holcomb at linebacker—even Ja’Whaun Bentley, eventually.