The Pittsburgh Steelers won a stressful game over the Washington Commanders on Sunday to improve to 7-2 on the 2024 season. Both the offense and defense struggled some for Pittsburgh, but each unit came up big when it mattered most during the fourth quarter. Quarterback Russell Wilson looked uncomfortable for the first time since his debut in Pittsburgh, but he was able to be a major factor in the win, as delivered touchdown strikes to George Pickens, Pat Freiermuth, and Mike Williams.
Pittsburgh acquired Williams at the trade deadline on November 5th, so he's been with the team for under a week when they headed to Maryland to play the Commanders. The Steelers gave the New York Jets a fifth-round pick in exchange for Williams, and that move from General Manager Omar Khan already seems like it is paying off. Williams hauled in a 32-yard yard touchdown pass from Wilson with just over two minutes remaining, which ultimately was the game-winning score.
Pickens spoke to the media following the win, and he was asked a lot about his new partner-in-crime. The third-year wide receiver praised the veteran, but also shared an interesting anecdote about making sure Williams was still locked in amidst a low snap count.
"Yeah, we knew situationally, I told him situationally, 'Just stay in it,'" Pickens said. "Because a guy with his size you know, fourth down you know what I mean, two minutes. When it's waning down, we're looking for guys like that, so I just told him you know, stay in it."
This was an important message from Pickens in the middle of the contest as Williams played extremely sparingly. He hadn't seen a target up until his touchdown with two minutes left in the game which could be discouraging for a lot of players. This was a different circumstance since Williams had only been with the team for five days, but he was probably feeling the same way that he did in New York until he was given a chance to win the game.
Williams was buried on the depth chart in New York, and that was likely hard to deal with as a former first-round pick. Pickens made sure to check on him during the game, which is interesting since Pickens has had issues staying locked into contests at times. In Week 5 against the Dallas Cowboys, Pickens was on the field for a limited amount of snaps, and he seemed visibly checked out at times. It is good for fans to see the young wide receiver take on the role of being a leader.
Williams will certainly see more playing time as the year goes on, especially as his chemistry with Wilson continues to grow. The Steelers are 3-0 in games started by the veteran quarterback, and Williams will need to play well if they plan to build on that success.
Steelers' George Pickens Praised The Addition Of Mike Williams
It was the worst kept secret in the NFL that the Steelers would be adding a receiver at the trade deadline. Khan had been trying to upgrade the position for months, but kept failing. There was a handful of receivers that were rumored to be available at the deadline, and Khan chose to strike a deal with the Jets to land Williams. Pickens was asked about having the presence of Williams with him on the field.
"Oh, it's great man," Pickens said. "He made a big time play too, so that's really all I can say."
Williams should be able to open up the passing game more Pickens once he sees consistent playing time, which could come in Week 11 against the Baltimore Ravens. It will be a key game as the winner will take control of the AFC North.
