Steelers' Mike Tomlin Announces That A Rising Rookie Will Surprisingly Get First-Team Reps

The Pittsburgh Steelers are trying to figure out who are the real studs on the team and who folds in the face of competition. For example, Beanie Bishop Jr. quickly went from top dog at slot corner to being Grayland Arnold's backup. How they handle their new roles and responsibilities will determine who wins the position and a spot on the 53-man roster. There are plenty of other camp battles going on, and with just under a month to go before Week 1, there are still plenty of chances for these players to find an increased role. 

Mike Tomlin always talks about what players do with their opportunities. He mentioned in his postgame press conference that he has been focusing on guys that have been given those extra chances, like Cory Trice Jr., who has temporarily filled in on the first-team defense while Donte Jackson heals up. However, injuries don't always have to be the cause of a backup player getting more opportunities. 

Tomlin brought up the fact that even though their starting linebackers are healthy, he wants to give them a break to see what their backups can do, especially their standout rookie, Payton Wilson.

"We view [starters not playing] more as an opportunity for some ascending guys to get not only more reps, but more competitive reps against more experienced competition. That's how we look at some of that. We'll continue that throughout the remainder of this process. I think when I come back on Wednesday, [Patrick Queen] and Elandon Roberts, for example, will rotate out. It will be a good day for a guy like Payton Wilson."

The Steelers will not practice on Tuesday, but it's interesting to hear about how Patrick Queen and Elandon Roberts won't run with the first team, if at all after that break. They'll probably be back shortly after that, but Tomlin clearly wants to see how his linebacker depth looks against the first team offense. It makes sense to try this for a multitude of reasons. 

Behind the starters are Wilson and Tyler Matakevich, with Mark Robinson listed on the third team defense. Matakevich and Robinson are battling for the primary backup role next to Wilson. However, with Cole Holcomb's severe injury keeping him out of preseason and maybe the beginning of the regular season, it seems like all of those linebackers will make the roster -- so there is some importance in running them against the first team offense just in case.

Steelers Specifically Want To See Wilson

Wilson had a great introduction to the NFL, as he was all around the ball during the team's first preseason game. He ran with the first team and the second team, and he just made play after play. He led the team with seven tackles, including one tackle for loss. He just always seemed to be wherever the ball-carrier was, and it looks like the Steelers got themselves a massive steal at the end of the third round. 

Tomlin specifically named Wilson as a player that would benefit from these reps. Clearly, the Steelers are anticipating that he will eventually be a starter, and he will need these kinds of opportunities. Meanwhile, Matakevich is known for being a special teams ace, as opposed to an impactful middle linebacker. Robinson also has just pure straight-line speed with not much ability to change direction or move laterally. Who knows how much longer they will be here, but Wilson will hopefully be a Steeler for a long time. 

What do you think about Tomlin planning on giving Wilson a day on the first team defense, along with the other backup linebackers? Let us know in the comments below.

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