Avery Williamson is going from 0-8 to 7-0.
The winless Jets are sending their middle linebacker to the undefeated Steelers, according to multiple reports. The Jets are also trading a 2022 seventh-round pick to Pittsburgh and getting a 2022 fifth-round pick in exchange, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The trade follows Pittsburgh’s loss of Devin Bush, who recently suffered a torn ACL. Robert Spillane was filling in for Bush — he had a pick-six off of Lamar Jackson on Sunday — but the Steelers clearly wanted more depth up the middle.
Williamson will provide just that. The 28-year-old returned this season from an ACL injury of his own. So far he has played in seven games, recording 59 tackles, one interception and three passes defended.
Williamson began his career in Tennessee in 2014 before making his way to the Jets as a free agent in time for the 2018 season. All in all, he played in 23 games for New York.
Now the defender will have a chance to compete for a Super Bowl after spending the first half of the season with the NFL’s worst team.