Steelers LB Payton Wilson: ‘My knees don’t bother me’

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a potential star in the form of rookie linebacker Payton Wilson. The consensus top linebacker in the 2024 NFL Draft class fell to Pittsburgh in the third round with the 98th overall pick.

The rookie out of North Carolina State slipped in the draft because of a myriad of injuries he dealt with over two years ago. When asked about his past injuries, specifically one of his knees not having an ACL, Wilson said he isn’t bothered at all with any injuries, and hasn’t been for years.

“I’ve been playing like this for so long,” Wilson said. “It doesn’t bother me. My knees don’t bother me. My knees don’t bother me. I’m not gonna have a problem with it.”

To the shock of many, North Carolina State linebacker Payton Wilson fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, where he was taken with the No. 98 overall pick.

Wilson was one of the best linebackers, if not the best linebacker, in this class. He had 92 tackles in 2023, including 41 run stops, and three interceptions. When he was targeted, he only allowed a passer rating of 47.2- he was tremendous.

And already on day one of rookie minicamp at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex in the South Side of Pittsburgh, Wilson is already standing out amongst his peers in his first day wearing some sort of on-field garments.

According to Alan Saunders of Steelers Now, Wilson was calling the defense on day one, and has a veteran presence about him when speaking to the media.