A new addition to the lineup sparked a victory on “Sunday Night Football,” and it wasn’t Davante Adams with the New York Jets.
Quarterback Russell Wilson made his debut for Pittsburgh after recovering from a calf injury that had kept him out since the preseason. He overcame a couple of rough early drives to finish with 264 passing yards and two touchdowns, leading the Steelers to a convincing 37-15 victory over the Jets. With this win, Pittsburgh’s record improves to 5-2.
Although Justin Fields had led the team to a 4-2 record while Wilson was sidelined, the team decided to return to Wilson, their starter at the start of the season, once he was healthy. Wilson struggled initially against the Jets, but he quickly found his groove, particularly connecting with receiver George Pickens for five receptions totaling 111 yards.
Meanwhile, the spotlight was also on Adams in his highly anticipated reunion with former Green Bay Packers teammate Aaron Rodgers. The Jets recently traded for Adams from Las Vegas amid a turbulent week that included firing head coach Robert Saleh and demoting offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. However, Adams’ addition to the starting lineup did not elevate New York’s offense, leaving them with a 2-5 record.
Adams was targeted nine times but managed only three receptions for 30 yards. While his presence allowed other players more space to operate, the Jets faced difficulties finishing drives, compounded by Rodgers throwing two interceptions to Beanie Bishop Jr.
Rodgers ended the game with 276 yards and one touchdown.
A silver lining for the Jets over the weekend was the end of pass rusher Haason Reddick’s contract holdout, enabling the team to bolster their defense with a player boasting 58 career sacks, a much-needed addition given the team’s injury struggles.