Steelers' Mike McCarthy Makes Definitive Statement About LB Patrick Queen

The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals by a score of 30-27 in a thrilling Week 3 matchup. The offense showed up, scoring a season-high in points and totaling 411 yards. Aaron Rodgers had his best game so far this season, looking poised in the pocket and delivering downfield. With three touchdowns and a 101.6 passer rating, Rodgers delivered when the team needed him most.  

While the offense lit up the scoreboard, the defense did the opposite, having its worst showing of the season. Joe Burrow was rarely faced with pressure and was surgical against the Steelers' zone coverage. The secondary struggled without Joey Porter Jr. and will likely continue to. While the defense as a whole wasn't great, Patrick Queen came to play, recording 13 tackles and a pass deflection. 

Following the game, Head Coach Mike McCarthy praised Queen's performance during his press conference. McCarthy noted that Queen almost recorded another pick and praised his communication as the green dot on defense, making sure everyone is in the right spot. The defense has struggled with communication in past years, and Queen was at the center of it as the quarterback of the unit. This season, the group has done a much better job of being on the same page. 

"I thought Patrick played very well," McCarthy stated. "You can see the communication and the connection on defense is where it needs to be."

When he was signed, Queen received the biggest contract in franchise history for a free agent (at the time), and two years into that deal, it hasn't gone as hoped. His play has been up and down, but the communication with the defense has been a consistent issue. You can't pin all the blame on Queen, but it's his responsibility to get the defense on the same page, and through three games this season, he's done just that. 

Queen seems much more consistent in Patrick Graham's defense than he was under Mike Tomlin. He's excelling against the pass, already recording an interception and a passer rating of just 8.3 (before Week 3). Graham's prints are all over the defense, but it's Queen's job to execute, and he's been a much better player in his third year in the Black and Gold. 

The former Baltimore Ravens All-Pro is in the final year of his three-year contract, and before the season, the consensus was that this would be his final year in the Steel City. The season is still young, and a lot can change, but with his play through three games, the likelihood that he gets re-signed has grown. While Queen is seeing results, his partner Payton Wilson has not seen the same glory. 

Steelers' Wilson Continues To Struggle In Year 3

While Queen is adapting well to Graham's defense, Wilson is not. The third-year linebacker was a non-factor against the New England Patriots in Week 2 and was splitting time during the game against the Bengals. Wilson's weakness is against the run, and it's been glaring. Cincinnati started the game with a run right at Wilson that sprung Chase Brown for a nice gain and continued to exploit the former NC State standout. 

Cole Holcomb came in for Wilson occasionally and recorded just one tackle. The run defense allowed just 83 yards but gave up too many explosive plays. A large part of that has been linebacker play, and Holcomb's sudden usage suggests that's the weak point. Pittsburgh will have to get more consistent play from its inside linebackers if it wants to be a top defense in the NFL. 

Wilson has tons of potential, but three years into his career, he's still only that. A third-round pick in 2024, his struggles are largely the same as in his rookie season. The Steelers need to get more out of him and get a return on their investment; otherwise, he could go down as another wasted Day 2 pick. He did, however, have a nice pass breakup in the contest.

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