Scouting the Jets: Star WR Davante Adams to make team debut

SCOUTING THE JETS

Last meeting

Jets beat Steelers, 24-20, on Oct. 2, 2022 in Pittsburgh

Key matchup

Jets WR Davante Adams vs. Steelers CB Joe Porter Jr.

Adams will be making his Jets debut after his trade from the Raiders this week. The most recent time he faced the Steelers (Sept. 24, 2023 in Las Vegas) he had 13 catches for 173 yards and two touchdowns. But that was primarily against Levi Wallace, who’s no longer with the Steelers. Porter is expected to most often face Adams this time.

Key injuries

The Steelers welcome outside linebacker Alex Highsmith (groin) back after a three-game absence and safety Damontae Kazee (ankle) after missing one game. They are without center Zach Frazier (ankle), outside linebacker Nick Herbig (hamstring) and returner/running back Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle).

The Jets are without one starting defensive back (Michael Carter, back) and list another as questionable (D.J. Reed, groin). Tight end Tyler Conklin (hip) is questionable.

Series record

Steelers lead 20-7

Series notes

Despite the overall Steelers dominance in the series, the Jets have had the upper hand in the Mike Tomlin tenure, winning five of the eight regular-season matchups against Tomlin’s Steelers. New York has won three of the past four meetings and each of the past two. … The Steelers held a 14-1 advantage in the series through 2002. The teams’ first meeting was 1970. … The Steelers have won both playoff meetings, including the 2010 AFC championship game. … The most recent game between the teams was notable for Kenny Pickett’s NFL debut. Pickett, then a rookie first-round pick, replaced Mitch Trubisky at halftime that day. … The Steelers are 10-2 in home games against the Jets but have lost two of the past four meetings.

Notable

Adams reunites with veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, with whom he played with for eight seasons in Green Bay. They have combined for 76 touchdowns, and their next TD connection will move them into sole possession of fifth place among QB-WR touchdown catch tandems in NFL history. … Two touchdown passes from Rodgers to Adams will move the pair into a tie for fourth place all-time — with former Steelers teammates Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown. … Among active defensive linemen since Quinnen Williams was drafted by the Jets in 2019, Williams ranks fourth and Cameron Heyward second in sacks. … Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson entered the weekend second in the league in receptions with 41. New York’s Breece Hall is second in receptions among running backs with 26. … New York’s Will McDonald leads the AFC with seven sacks — all coming within the past five games.

Fantasy tip

Expected to make his first start for the Steelers on Sunday, Russell Wilson last season finished with the 13th-most fantasy points among all quarterbacks (per pro-football-reference.com accounting of standard scoring). In 2017, Wilson led all NFL players in fantasy points and from 2017-20 he finished among the top 10 each season.