Wilson's Mental Toughness a Vital Part of His Growth

The Las Vegas Raiders have watched rookie first-round draft choice Tyree Wilson improve weekly. Wilson, who started the season working his way back from an injury, entered the league with high expectations.

However, because of his injury and the natural learning curve of rookies in the National Football League, Wilson faced immediate adversity.

"I'm sure early on he was frustrated, as we all were," Interim Coach Pierce said. "But it kind of went the opposite way with him. Most rookies start here, and then they slow down in November, December.

"His arrow just keeps going up and up. Each and every week, each and every day in practice, you see something and say: 'OK, here we go. This is what we saw on film.' And I think it's a credit to him not becoming mentally weak.

"I think all rookies when they get drafted in the first 10 picks say: 'I've got it, I made it. I'm good.' Man, it's hard in this business, and I think he respected that process maybe a little too late or not early enough."

Now that Wilson is healthy, his growth has been hard to deny.

"I mean, one, healthy, right?" Pierce said "This whole offseason, I don't think he practiced until after the 49ers preseason game on Week 1. He didn't have a normal offseason. He was rehabbing in the month of December, couldn't run his 40, couldn't do anything at the combine.

"But I think he's done a great job as far as adapting to different roles that we've put him in. Sometimes, you've got to find that niche of that player of what gives him confidence. And I think when we moved him inside and put him back outside, and you can see the confidence just growing with his kid."

Pierce credits Las Vegas' training staff with helping Wilson's physical progression into the National Football League, leading to his gradual growth over the season.

"It will be good for him just to get in here with our training staff and nutritionists and everybody, just change his body even more," Pierce said. "I mean, the sky's the limit for him, and it's what he wants to get out of it, and the work that he's going to put into it, which I would be surprised if he's not here each and every day."

Pierce expects Wilson to be even better next season after having an entire offseason in the NFL working with veterans such as Maxx Crosby.

"When No. 98 (Maxx Crosby) shows up probably two weeks after the season's over, he'll be here right with him, and you'll have no better mentor and leader to follow than him," Pierce said.

As the Raiders hit the road to face the Kansas City Chiefs, Wilson's ability to disrupt an offense's game plan that has been on display the last few weeks would go a long way in containing quarterback Patrick Mahomes and one of the best offenses in the NFL.

The Silver and Black will return to action versus their AFC West rivals, the Kansas City Chiefs, on Christmas Day at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Don't miss it on Monday, December 25, at 1 p.m. EST/10 a.m. PST.

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