Just 23 games into his NFL career, Payton Wilson has already been assigned a formal leadership role with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

An inside linebacker by trade, Wilson has taken on the role of special teams captain for the remainder of the season following the season-ending knee injury suffered by erstwhile unit captain Miles Killebrew this month.

“Really honored about that,” Wilson said Monday. “Thanks to coach (Mike) Tomlin, thanks to Miles for recommending me. He’s a great leader. He’s been a great role model. Hopefully, I can fill his role.”

Wilson said he was told of his new gig during a team meeting last week. The public became aware prior to kickoff of Sunday night’s game against the Green Bay Packers when Wilson joined Aaron Rodgers, T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward in walking to midfield for the pregame coin toss.

“It’s a great blessing and great honor,” said Wilson, who was a captain at N.C. State before he was drafted by the Steelers in the third round last year.

Over the past five games, Wilson has been a regular “core” special teamer — as well as adding placekick-block unit duties to being part of all the kick and punt coverage and return teams like he’d done as a rookie.

According to pro-football-reference.com, only Jack Sawyer (151) and Ben Skowronek (139) have played more special-teams snaps for the Steelers this season than Wilson (124).

Wilson recognizes that his new role will call for some new duties.

“Miles was the voice of everything on teams,” Wilson said. “Miles broke the huddles down, ran our meetings sometimes, our Saturday punt meeting and things like that. It’s taking that stuff over and being a voice in the room when we’re struggling a little bit or something isn’t going our way. Miles is always a great voice for us in there, and I’m just trying to fill that role.”

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