Newly fortified contenders clash as Steelers face Commanders
Two teams that tried to improve their fortunes at the trade deadline will meet when the Pittsburgh Steelers visit the Washington Commanders on Sunday.
Pittsburgh (6-2), looking to boost both sides of the ball, acquired wide receiver Mike Williams from the New York Jets and edge rusher Preston Smith from the Green Bay Packers.
Williams averaged 44.1 catches, 686.6 yards and 4.4 touchdowns in his first seven NFL seasons, all spent with the Los Angeles Chargers. This season he had 12 catches for 166 yards in nine games for the Jets.
"It's exciting," Williams said of his new home. "It starts up front, the running game. And then everybody sees plays that the receivers make. GP (George Pickens) going out there, making big-time plays every game. So, adding me just added another threat, a guy that can go out there and make plays."
Smith will aid an already strong unit that ranks second in scoring defense and ninth in total defense. He had 2.5 sacks this season and has 68.5 in a 10-year career that began when he was selected by Washington in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft and continued in Green Bay.
Meanwhile, the Commanders (7-2) were looking to improve a secondary hurt by injuries and poor play. They accomplished that by sending three 2025 draft picks to the New Orleans Saints for cornerback Marshon Lattimore. A four-time Pro Bowl selection (most recently in 2021) he has been hampered by injuries in recent years.
"He's shown over the course of his career the ability to play inside and outside and staying connected to receivers," Commanders coach Dan Quinn said. "That's the name of the game. He's able to play it tight. He's a good tackler, so we're pumped we got him."
Lattimore (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday and was considered day-to-day.
Both teams bring three-game winning streaks into the Sunday matchup.
Pittsburgh, which leads the Baltimore Ravens by a half game in the AFC North, beat the Las Vegas Raiders, the Jets and the New York Giants before having a bye last weekend. Washington, a half-game ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East, beat the Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears and the Giants the past three weeks.
Washington hopes to improve to 8-2 for the first time since 1986. A fifth straight home win to start the season would be a first for the franchise since 1991.
Pittsburgh's offense has improved of late. Russell Wilson has passed for 542 yards and three touchdowns without an interception in two starts since taking over for Justin Fields.
"He can absolutely rip it, but it's the downfield big-shot plays," Quinn said of Wilson. "When those explosive plays happen, they are game-changers, and that's what I think Russ' superpower is like. Deep-ball accuracy. Not everybody has that."
Washington continues to hum behind the play of rookie Jayden Daniels, who passed for 209 yards and two touchdowns in the win over the Giants. He has completed 71.5 percent of his passes for 1,945 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions, and he has run for 459 yards and four touchdowns.
"They lead the NFL in rushing touchdowns," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "(Daniels') quarterback mobility is a component of that. They're 11 of 11 on fourth-down conversions."
Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr., who missed the win against the Giants due to a hamstring injury, was limited in practice on Wednesday. Kicker Austin Seibert (hip) did not practice.
The Steelers might be getting some players back. Tomlin said Wednesday that cornerback Cory Trice Jr. (hamstring), outside linebacker Nick Herbig (hamstring), running back/kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle), center Zach Frazier (ankle) and linebacker Tyler Matakevich (hamstring) all have a chance of returning after missing multiple games.
