Russell Wilson finally made his long-awaited debut for the Pittsburgh Steelers and it was definitely worth the wait. After being sidelined with a calf injury in Week One, Wilson had to watch Justin Fields take the reins as the team’s quarterback for the first six weeks of the season. However, a change was made before Sunday night’s game against the Jets, and Wilson did not disappoint.
It did take Wilson a little while to find his rhythm, but once he did, the Steelers were unstoppable. They managed to score on their final five offensive possessions, ultimately securing a dominant 37-15 home win. Wilson finished the game with 16-of-29 completions for 264 yards and two touchdowns. The Steelers also had a season-high average of 6.3 yards per play and connected on four passing plays that covered at least 25 yards. This was a significant improvement for a team that had only managed 13 such plays in the first six weeks of the season.
Head coach Mike Tomlin was full of praise for Wilson’s performance, stating, “I thought he was excellent. I thought he got better as the game went on. But I’m not surprised by that. It’s been a while since he played some ball, but I thought he settled in, knocked the rust off and distributed the ball around and played well.”
Running back Najee Harris also lauded Wilson’s impact on the offense, describing him as “multidimensional.” Harris emphasized the importance of having a versatile quarterback like Wilson, believing that it is crucial for making a deep playoff run. While there is still a long road ahead before reaching the playoffs, Sunday night’s game showcased the potential of the Steelers in the months to come.
All in all, Wilson’s debut for the Steelers was a roaring success, leaving fans and pundits alike excited for what the future holds for the team with him at the helm.
