This season, a few new Steelers players will get the chance to get revenge on their old teams.
Of them, quarterback Russell Wilson stands out the most. Wilson played with the Broncos the previous two seasons before returning to Denver in Week 2.
Due to Denver’s willingness to absorb a $53 million cap hit in 2024 and a $32 million salary hit in 2025 in exchange for Wilson, this clash has been highly anticipated. ESPN analyst Kevin Clark, nevertheless, doesn’t believe it will live up to the anticipation.
What is meant by a “revenge game”? Clark explained on his “This Is Football” podcast that a vengeance game is when someone is aiming to exact retribution on a team. “This is not Randy Moss playing against the Cowboys and saying, ‘I’m gonna get 900 yards every time we play.’ Russell Wilson is not capable of revenge.”
Wilson appeared to be receiving too much criticism despite his unsatisfactory two-year tenure with the Broncos. By any measure, he had a solid season last year, throwing for 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions.
For the Steelers, who saw quarterbacks Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, and Mitchell Trubisky combine for just 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions in the previous season, that would be a huge upgrade.
Nevertheless, Wilson will receive $37.79 million from Denver for not playing for the championship this year. That explains a lot about the team’s feelings toward him and the reason Clark doesn’t believe Wilson can revive his career in Pittsburgh.
“He was objectively bad enough to say, ‘We don’t want you to be as part of our future,'” Clark said.
Given that multiple players have already given new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s offense high marks, Wilson does appear to be well-positioned for success in Pittsburgh.
But whether Wilson succeeds in exacting his retribution remains to be seen. Because the game in Week 2 will take place in front of a nationwide audience at 4:25 p.m. ET, the Steelers will undoubtedly be hoping he gets off to a quick start.
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