Ray Fittipaldo believes Payton Wilson may see reduced playing time with the Pittsburgh Steelers next season if the team deploys all three edge rushers together.
The Pittsburgh Steelers signed Nick Herbig to a new contract, signaling their commitment to a strong pass rush. T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Herbig are expected to compete for starter reps, with a package featuring all three edge rushers likely to return in 2026. Fittipaldo said during an appearance on the Pomp and Joe Show that Wilson would probably come off the field in those situations to avoid mismatches. He noted that the defense prefers matching bigs with bigs and skill players with skill players. Wilson enters his third season and has shown strength in the passing game but weaknesses against the run. Patrick Queen remains the every-down linebacker, while Highsmith's injury history and Herbig's new salary could influence snap distribution under defensive coordinator Patrick Graham.
