Steelers’ Payton Wilson Put on Notice After Breakout Game vs. Colts
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Pittsburgh Steelers' Patrick Queen told reporters after Sunday's game the NFL gave Payton Wilson a drug test after his breakout Week 9 game.
Second-year linebacker Payton Wilson had a performance for the ages Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts.
The 25-year-old led the Pittsburgh Steelers with 14 combined tackles, including 10 solos. He also had two pass defenses and an interception. One of his pass defenses led to another pick.
For the performance, Wilson is a strong candidate for AFC Defensive Player of the Week. But immediately after the game, the NFL subjected the linebacker to something else — a random drug test.
That’s what fellow Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen told reporters after the Steelers defeated the Colts 27-20 on Sunday.
“Patrick Queen informed us the NFL gave Payton Wilson a drug test after the Steelers game today,” wrote The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Christopher Carter on X.
In so many words, Queen told his teammate the drug test was a sign of respect.
“He’s got a freaking drug test. I told him, ‘That comes when you ballin,'” said Queen.
Patrick Queen informed us the #NFL gave Payton Wilson a drug test after the #Steelers game today, in which he led the team with 13 tackles an interception, and a tipped pass that was intercepted.
Queen: “He’s got a freaking drug test. I told him, that comes when you ballin.”
Payton Wilson Helps Ignite Steelers Defensive Turnaround
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin emphasized that there really wasn’t much difference between the team’s defense Sunday than the previous two weeks. But the results were much difference.
Wilson was one of the main reasons why.
The Steelers didn’t have any takeaways in the previous three games. Against the Colts, Wilson caused two himself, as Pittsburgh recorded six turnovers in the blowout win.
It was the first time the Steelers had at least six takeaways in one game since 2010.
Wilson has shown flashes of being a playmaker this season. Most notably, he chased down Minnesota Vikings receiver Jordan Addison in the open field to temporarily save a touchdown. The effort helped the Steelers defense eat more clock at the end of the Week 4 victory.
But Wilson, like many Steelers defenders, has taken his lumps this year. Not on Sunday, though, as the performance was arguably the best of Wilson’s career.
According to the Pro Football Focus player grades, which fans must always take with a grain of salt, Wilson’s best game this season was in Week 8. But his top two performances this season, based on the PFF grades, were the past two games.
It would be a huge boost to the Steelers defense if Wilson continues on his trajectory from the last two weeks. Even if that means Wilson needing to undergo more future drug tests.
Broncos QB Bo Nix Gives Strong Reaction After Trade Deadline Decision
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Bo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos reacts against the Houston Texans.
The Denver Broncos let the 2025 trade deadline come and go without getting anything done. Broncos quarterback Bo Nix offered strong thoughts about why that was. He also spoke about what it means for the team this season.
It was not as if the Broncos did not try. However, their desire fell short of what was required to make something happen.
For Nix, the decision came as little to no surprise.
Bo Nix: ‘Great’ Broncos Confident Enough to Stand Pat at Trade Deadline
GettyBo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos reacts after defeating the New York Giants.
Nix fielded a question about what is says to the team that the Broncos did not go all out to add a piece. Particularly, he was asked what it says about head coach Sean Payton’s faith in the group.
Nix called it “great.”
“Obviously, if there’s a need, you want to get it,” Nix told reporters on November 4. “But we feel like we got all the pieces. And so, sometimes when something like that happens, it shakes things up. And we got something good going, and we just want to keep riding this wave and finding ways to win.”
Much of the conversation around the Broncos’ trade plans stemmed from seeking help for Nix, be it another target or protection amid injuries to their offensive line.
The Broncos attempted to bring in tight ends and explored wide receiver trades.
Their biggest addition was veteran tight end Marcedes Lewis, who will have a bit role on the field and provide a locker room presence. Other than that, it is up to Nix and his current crop of pass catchers to take the necessary next steps.
Broncos WR Reacts to Trade Deadline
GettyTroy Franklin #11 of the Denver Broncos reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts.
One of Nix’s top targets, current Broncos wideout and former Oregon Ducks teammate Troy Franklin, spoke candidly about the Broncos’ lack of action at the deadline.
According to Franklin, it was not surprising based on what they had been told.
“Sean (Payton has) been telling us all year he loves our team, loves the receiver group and we don’t really need anything, so he’s kept his word,” Franklin said, per The Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson in a post on X on November 4.
Payton said leading up to the deadline that the Broncos would be open to a deal. However, that was only if it provided actual value, and not just to make something happen.
Franklin “especially” did not expect a WR move, per Tomasson, but Denver explored its options.
“The Broncos did NOT make a trade before the trade deadline,” DNVR’s Zac Stevens reported on X on November 4. “From my understanding, they looked into making moves, but didn’t force anything.”
Bo Nix: Broncos Looking to ‘Improve Faster’ Than Competition
GettyBo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos on the field after defeating the Houston Texans.
Nix acknowledged the Broncos’ fourth-quarter prowess has belied the difficulty of scoring. He joked that not facing a top defense like the Houston Texans in Week 9 would help. He also noted that the Broncos are far from satisfied with so much of the season left.
At 7-2, tied for the best record in the NFL, and riding a six-game winning streak is nice, but hardly their end goal.
Their main focus is continuing to improve.
“We have so many things that we want to correct. And we feel like we haven’t even played a complete game offensively, much less, as a team. And so, I think once we start doing that, then we got to be careful about being too lax. But until then, we’re all in a growth mindset, and we’re worried about the things that we can fix,” Nix told reporters on Tuesday.
“Because there’s several of them from each position that we’re trying to focus on. And until we’re hitting all the ones that we need to hit, I don’t think we’re going to be able to be relaxed. Because we have a lot of guys that are competitive. We don’t have a bunch of frontrunners. We just got a locker room full of guys that are trying to race to improve, and improve faster than everybody else in the league.”
