Three Steelers who could have biggest impact vs. Jets in Week 7

The Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2) are hosting the New York Jets (2-4) in what is a much-anticipated Week 7 matchup on “Sunday Night Football.”

Here are three Steelers who could impact the game the most:

Quarterback Russell Wilson

On Tuesday, head coach Mike Tomlin revealed that Wilson is “in consideration” to start over quarterback Justin Fields this week.

Just two days later, Fields seemed to hint that was the case with a critical assessment of his play over the past six weeks.

“I don’t think I played good enough, to be real with you,” Fields told reporters. “If I’m being real with myself, if I did play well enough, I don’t think there would be any sort of, ‘Who should be playing? Who should not?'”

It can be argued that Fields was too harsh on himself, but it looks like Wilson will make his regular-season debut on Sunday night, nonetheless.

It’s a very important game for the 35-year-old to prove he still belongs, as the Denver Broncos are paying him $37.79M to not play for them this season.

Running back Najee Harris

The Jets are entering the game with one of the best defenses in the NFL. 

Through the first six weeks, they are allowing the second-fewest total yards per game (273) and seventh-fewest points per game (18) in the league.

It will be difficult for Pittsburgh’s struggling offense to move the ball at all, but it will be New York’s second-ranked pass defense that will likely force the Steelers to run the ball.

That is something they’ll gladly do since Harris is coming off his best game of the season in which he rushed for 106 yards on 14 carries (7.6 yards per carry) and a touchdown.

The Steelers will just have to hope he can pick up where left off last week.

Cornerback Joey Porter Jr.

The Jets made what seemed inevitable official on Tuesday, trading for wide receiver Davante Adams and reuniting him with quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Unfortunately for Pittsburgh, it looks like Adams will play this week despite just joining the team.

Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin isn’t surprised, though, given their history.

“They have a lot of things that they’ve done together, and they’ll be well-versed. I don’t think he’s going to need the whole playbook to be successful,” Austin said. “It will probably be like they haven’t missed a beat.”

That could spell bad news for the Steelers, as Rodgers and Adams connected 622 times for 7,590 yards and 69 touchdowns with the Green Bay Packers.

However, Pittsburgh is confident in Porter Jr., who is often asked to shadow opposing team’s No. 1 wide receivers. This week should be no different.

“Joey is really competing. We put a lot on Joey in terms of guarding and moving around and getting him in probably some strenuous positions,” Austin added. “He has held up well, and he likes those challenges. So I’m really pleased with him.”

All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.