Steelers Give Adam Thielen a Prominent Role Right Out of the Gate
BALTIMORE - The Steelers didn’t waste any time getting Adam Thielen involved. In his first game with Pittsburgh, the veteran wideout was immediately elevated to WR2, logging 25 snaps and stepping into a significant role in a retooled receiving corps.
Alongside Thielen, Marquez Valdes-Scantling also saw the field, playing 16 snaps and helping to reshape a receiver room that’s been searching for stability and veteran presence. Head coach Mike Tomlin made it clear postgame that this shift wasn’t a coincidence - it was a calculated move to lean on experience.
“Exactly what you said, because of the veteran receivers,” Tomlin said when asked about the change.
The move comes as Pittsburgh continues to search for consistent production in the passing game. Rookie Roman Wilson had been seeing increased playing time in recent weeks, and while he flashed with some separation on deep routes, the timing just hasn’t been there.
Quarterbacks have struggled to connect with him on those go balls, and the missed opportunities have started to add up. As a result, Wilson was made a healthy scratch on game day - a notable decision that underscores the team’s current direction.
Enter Thielen, a steady hand in a young and evolving offense. While his stat line in his Steelers debut wasn’t flashy - one catch for four yards - the trust the coaching staff placed in him speaks volumes. At this point in his career, Thielen isn’t being asked to carry the offense, but rather to provide reliability, savvy route running, and leadership in key moments.
This season will be Thielen’s last in the NFL, and he’s hoping to make it count. After a long run with the Vikings and a two-year stint in Carolina, he briefly returned to Minnesota before landing in Pittsburgh. Now, with the clock ticking on his career, he has a chance to contribute to a playoff-hungry team in a meaningful way.
The Steelers are clearly banking on his experience to help stabilize a unit that’s been inconsistent all year. If Thielen can build chemistry with the quarterbacks and carve out a niche in the offense, his final NFL chapter might just be one worth watching.