Pittsburgh Steelers Rookie LB Payton Wilson: Can His Surgically-Repaired Knee Hold Up In The NFL?
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The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted linebacker Payton Wilson out of NC State late in the third round, which may end up being the steal of the draft.
Injury rumors surrounded the NC State star as he went through the draft process causing him to drop even though he had a first-round grade by many.
Wilson isn’t the first player the Steelers drafted a player without an ACL. Back in 1998, the Steelers selected Hines Ward, oddly enough, in the third round.
The 24-year-old missed 15 games in his first three years in college from 2019-2021 due to a shoulder injury, but he hasn’t missed games with a knee injury since his senior year of high school six years ago.
The NC State star played at an extremely high level in the college ranks. The only real question is if he can continue to play at the same level in the pro ranks. In the NFL collisions are faster and more violent than at the college level, and that could be cause for concern as Wilson gets more and more playing time.
Will his surgically repaired knee hold up under the pressure of a 17-game season? Will he hold up under the faster, rough-and-tumble world of playing linebacker in the NFL?
We will find out the answers to those questions one way or another in just a couple of months.
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