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Pack Pros: LB Payton Wilson impresses in first-ever Dublin NFL game

image_6483441 (3)by: Noah Fleischman4 hours agofleischman_noah
Payton Wilson
Sep 28, 2025; Dublin, Ireland; Minnesota Vikings tight end TJ. Hockenson (87) misses a pass under pressure from Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Payton Wilson (41) during the second quarter during an NFL International Series game at Croke Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

It doesn’t matter where Payton Wilson is playing, as long as he’s on a football field, the NC State Pack Pro linebacker is going to make a play. That was on full display at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland, this past weekend. 

Wilson, a defender with an ever-expanding role in the middle of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense, posted a career-best 13 total tackles in the team’s 24-21 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday morning. He also added eight solo stops to tie his career high, while Wilson also recorded two tackles for a loss. 

In addition to his impressive stat line to lead the Steelers’ defense in tackles, Wilson made one of the more eye-popping plays in the entire NFL. At 6-foot-4, 243 pounds, Wilson chased down speedy Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison by running at 22.45 mph to prevent an explosive touchdown pass. His speed marked the fastest any NFL linebacker has run in a game since the league started tracking the statistic in 2016. 

While it was reminiscent of his chase-down tackle against Notre Dame as he hit 23.7 mph during the 2023 season, Wilson credited his father’s work ethic rubbing off on him growing up in Hillsborough, N.C.

“My father is a hard working person. I watched him get up at 3 AM everyday. He told me when I play, to play it the right way,” Wilson told reporters afterwards. “Hustle is included in that. I mean, he pushed me to limits I didn’t even know I had.”

While Wilson was able to leave his mark with the Steelers this weekend, he wasn’t the only Pack Pro in action. Let’s take a look at how all of the former Wolfpack players fared in Week 4 of the league’s regular season slate.

Pack Pros: NFL Week 4

OT Anthony Belton (played at NC State from 2021-2024), #71 Green Bay Packers: Belton did not play in the Packers’ 40-40 tie with the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. He missed the game due to an ankle injury suffered in practice. The team does not believe it’s a long-term injury. 

C Garrett Bradbury (2014-18), #65 New England Patriots: Bradbury played 49 total snaps at center in the Patriots’ 42-13 win over the Carolina Panthers. He allowed two quarterback pressures, both of which resulted in hurries, in the victory.

QB Jacoby Brissett (2014-15), #7 Arizona Cardinals: Brissett, a backup quarterback, did not play in the Cardinals’ 23-20 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football.

OLB Bradley Chubb (2014-17), #2 Miami Dolphins: Chubb recorded three total tackles, all solo stops, in the Dolphins’ 27-21 win over the New York Jets. He did not log a sack for the first time this season after posting one in each of the first three games.

P A.J. Cole III (2015-18), #6 Las Vegas Raiders: Cole logged just one punt, a 60-yard blast, in the Raiders’ 25-24 loss to the Chicago Bears. He is now averaging 51.2 yards per attempt through the first four games with the 60-yarder kick being his longest this season.

DL Cory Durden (2021-22), #94 New England Patriots: Durden played 17 total snaps in the Giants’ 21-18 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. He did not record a tackle in the victory.

OT Ikem Ekwonu (2019-21), #79 Carolina Panthers: Ekwonu played 72 total snaps in the Panthers’ 42-13 loss to the New England Patriots. He allowed five quarterback pressures, which resulted in four hurries and a sack, in the defeat.

DL B.J. Hill Jr. (2014-17), #92 Cincinnati Bengals: Hill posted five total tackles, including four solo stops, in the Bengals’ 28-3 loss to the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football. He also recorded a tackle for a loss in the defeat.

S Tanner Ingle (2018-22), #34 Los Angeles Rams: Ingle did not play in the Rams’ 27-20 win over the Indianapolis Colts. He’s on the team’s practice squad.

DT Justin Jones (2014-17), #93 Arizona Cardinals: Jones was placed on the Cardinals’ injured reserve with a knee injury in August. He is not eligible to return to practice until after the team’s Week 4 game against the Seattle Seahawks. 

RB Zonovan Knight (2019-21), #35 Arizona Cardinals: Knight logged two kick returns for 44 yards in the Cardinals’ 23-20 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He had a long of 24 yards in the game as a practice squad elevation. Knight was also on the field for three punt returns, but did not record a stat on that unit.

OL Tim McKay (2019-2024), #68 Washington Commanders: McKay did not play in the Washington Commanders’ 34-27 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. He’s on the team’s practice squad.

OL Dylan McMahon (2019-23), #63 Los Angeles Rams: McMahon, a practice squad player, did not play in the Rams’ 27-20 win over the Indianapolis Colts.

DT Alim McNeill (2018-20), #54 Detroit Lions: McNeill began his fifth NFL season recovering from a torn ACL suffered in Week 15 of the 2024 season. The Lions expect the defensive lineman to make his return to the field in season.

WR Jakobi Meyers (2016-18), #16 Las Vegas Raiders: Meyers logged four catches for 30 yards in the Raiders’ 25-24 loss to the Chicago Bears. He was targeted seven times and had a long of 10 yards in the defeat.

DT Larrell Murchison (2018-19), #52 Los Angeles Rams: Murchison logged 14 total snaps in the Rams’ 27-20 win over the Indianapolis Colts. He didn’t post a tackle in the victory.

LB Germaine Pratt (2014-18), #57 Las Vegas Raiders: Pratt logged five total tackles, including three solo stops, in the Raiders’ 25-24 loss to the Chicago Bears. He recorded one tackle for loss in the defeat.

DL Kentavius Street (2014-17), #93 Atlanta Falcons: Street, who’s on the Falcons’ practice squad, did not play in the team’s 30-0 loss to the Carolina Panthers.

LB Drake Thomas (2019-22), #42 Seattle Seahawks: Thomas tied his career best with five total tackles, including four solo stops, in the Seahawks’ 23-20 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday Night Football. He posted his first-ever NFL sack in the victory as well.

OL Joe Thuney (2011-15), #62 Chicago Bears: Thuney played all 68 offensive snaps in the Bears’ 25-24 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. He did not allow a quarterback pressure in the victory. 

LB Payton Wilson (2018-23), #41 Pittsburgh Steelers: Wilson led the Steelers with a career-best 13 total tackles, including eight solos, in the Steelers’ 24-21 win over the Minnesota Vikings. He recorded two tackles for a loss with a quarterback hit in the victory.

QB Russell Wilson (2007-10, finished at Wisconsin), #3 New York Giants: Wilson was benched earlier in the week in favor of rookie quarterback Jaxon Dart. He didn’t play in the team’s 21-18 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.

OL Chandler Zavala (2021-22), #62 Carolina Panthers: Zavala played 18 total snaps in the Panthers’ 42-13 loss to the New England Patriots. He allowed two quarterback pressures, which resulted in a hurry and a hit.