Pack Pros: QB Russell Wilson impresses in Pittsburgh Steelers debut

After missing the first six games recovering from a calf injury, former NC State quarterback Russell Wilson made his Pittsburgh Steelers debut against the New York Jets on Sunday Night Football. And the Pack Pro signal-caller delivered. 

Wilson finished 16-of-29 passing for 264 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Steelers to a 37-15 win over the Jets. He started just 2-of-6 for 19 yards in the first quarter, but Wilson was able to dazzle over the last three periods to pace the Steelers to a primetime win. 

“I thought he got better as the game went on,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin told reporters postgame. “But I’m not surprised by that. It has been a while since he’s played some ball, but I thought he settled in, knocked the rust off and distributed the ball around and played well.”

Wilson goes to Van Jefferson for another @Steelers TD!

📺: #NYJvsPIT on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/St3LA07Eql

— NFL (@NFL) October 21, 2024

Wilson became the first quarterback to guide the Steelers to 30 or more points in his starting debut with the squad since the statistic has been tracked going back to the 1950 season, according to ESPN Stats and Info. 

The quarterback wasn’t the only Pack Pro in action this weekend. Here’s a look at how NC State’s former standouts fared in their Week 7 NFL games.

Pack Pros in the NFL: Week 7

C Garrett Bradbury (played at NC State from 2015-18), #56 Minnesota Vikings: Bradbury played 60 snaps at center in the Vikings’ 31-29 loss to the Detroit Lions.

QB Jacoby Brissett (2014-15), #14 New England Patriots: Brissett did not play in the Patriots’ 32-16 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. 

OLB Bradley Chubb (2014-17), #2 Miami Dolphins: Chubb is currently on the Dolphins’ injured reserve and will miss at least the first four games of the 2024 season. 

P A.J. Cole III (2015-18), #6 Las Vegas Raiders: Cole logged four punts for 190 yards in the Raiders’ 20-15 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. He had an average of 47.5 yards per punt with one kick inside the 20-yard line and a touchback. Cole’s long was 56 yards in the loss.

DT Cory Durden (2021-22), #98 Los Angeles Rams:.Durden is on the Rams’ practice squad. 

OT Ikem Ekwonu (2019-21), #79 Carolina Panthers: Ekwonu played 44 total snaps in the Panthers’ 40-7 loss to the Washington Commanders. 

P Trenton Gill (2018-21) #47 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Gill is on the Buccaneers practice squad. 

WR Kelvin Harmon (2016-18), #84 Dallas Cowboys: Harmon is on the Cowboys’ practice squad. 

DL B.J. Hill Jr. (2014-17), #92 Cincinnati Bengals: Hill logged one tackle in the Bengals’ 21-14 win over the Cleveland Browns. He also added a pass defended in the win. 

RB Nyheim Hines (2015-17), #22 Cleveland Browns: Hines is still recovering from his season-ending injury suffered last year. 

S Tanner Ingle (2018-22), #34 Los Angeles Rams: Ingle is on the Rams’ practice squad.

DT Justin Jones (2014-17), #93 Arizona Cardinals: Jones was placed on the Cardinals’ injured reserve with a triceps injury. He will miss the rest of the season to recover.

LB Vi Jones (2019-21), #53 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jones is on the Buccaneers’ practice squad for the 2024 season.

CB Robert Kennedy III (2023), #40 Los Angeles Chargers: Kennedy is on the Chargers’ practice squad for the 2024 season. 

DT T.Y. McGill Jr. (2011-14), #96 San Francisco 49ers: McGill is on the 49ers’ practice squad for the 2024 season. 

C Dylan McMahon (2019-23), #63 Los Angeles Rams: McMahon did not play in the Rams’ 20-15 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. 

DT Alim McNeill (2018-20), #54 Detroit Lions: McNeill played 55 total snaps in the Lions’ 31-29 win over the Minnesota Vikings. He did not record a tackle in the victory.

WR Jakobi Meyers (2016-18), #16 Las Vegas Raiders: Meyers was inactive for the Raiders’ 20-15 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. He is recovering from an ankle injury, which required him to miss a second straight game.

DT Larrell Murchison (2018-19), #52 Los Angeles Rams: Murchison is currently on the injured reserve and will miss at least the first four weeks of the 2024 season.

K Brayden Narveson (2023), #44 Green Bay Packers: Narveson was released by the Green Bay Packers this week.

LB Germaine Pratt (2014-18), #57 Cincinnati Bengals: Pratt led the Bengals with 13 total tackles, including 10 solo stops, in the Bengals’ 21-14 win over the Cleveland Browns. The linebacker also added a quarterback hit in the victory. 

DE James Smith-Williams (2016-19), #50 Atlanta Falcons: Smith-Williams logged one total tackle, which was a sack, in the Falcons’ 34-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He also had a pair of quarterback hits in the defeat. 

DL Kentavius Street (2014-17), #75 Atlanta Falcons: Street was inactive for the Falcons’ 34-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

WR Thayer Thomas (2017-22), #89 Minnesota Vikings: Thomas is on the Vikings practice squad. 

LB Drake Thomas (2019-22), #42 Seattle Seahawks: Thomas logged 21 total snaps in the Seahawks’ 34-14 win over the Atlanta Falcons. He did not record a tackle in the victory.

OL Joe Thuney (2012-15), #62 Kansas City Chiefs: Thuney played 69 total snaps at center in the Chiefs’ 28-18 win over the San Francisco 49ers. 

LB Payton Wilson (2018-23), #41 Pittsburgh Steelers: Wilson logged a team-best 10 total tackles, a new career high, in the Steelers’ 37-15 win over the New York Jets on Sunday Night Football. The linebacker had four solo stops as he paced the Steelers’ defense with his tenacious ability to fly around the defense. 

QB Russell Wilson (2007-09, finished at Wisconsin), #3 Pittsburgh Steelers: Wilson was 16-of-29 passing for 264 yards and two touchdowns in his Steelers’ debut against the New York Jets on Sunday Night Football, a 37-15 win. Wilson was sacked just once as he posted a 109.0 passer rating in the victory.OL Chandler Zavala (2021-22), #62 Carolina Panthers: Zavala played three total snaps in the Panthers’ 40-7 loss to the Washington Commanders.