Roman Wilson entered Steelers training camp with plenty to prove, and so far he’s answering the bell.
That matters because the road to this point has not been smooth. The former third-round pick’s first two seasons in Pittsburgh were underwhelming, with his rookie year shortened by injury and his second season ending with him effectively benched midway through.
Add in a revamped receiver room, and Wilson’s grip on a roster spot was anything but certain. He didn’t bring much special teams value either, which only sharpened the question of how he would get on the field if he made the team at all.
Now the conversation has shifted. Instead of wondering whether Wilson can stick, the Steelers may be asking how they keep him off the field.
He has emerged as one of camp’s early winners, and it’s not just about a handful of splash plays. Wilson is drawing targets consistently, which points to something bigger: he’s separating, getting open, and earning the trust of quarterbacks. The Steelers haven’t had a receiver win that way - with route running alone - in years.
Germie Bernard was widely expected to slide into the third receiver job, but Wilson is making that path a lot less straightforward. He’s not just showing up in camp either. He was already turning heads during OTA’s, and now he’s stringing together positive days at a time when he absolutely needed them.
There’s still a long way to go, and the picture could change once the pads come on and the preseason begins. But for now, Wilson is making the kind of push that can change a career. If he and Bernard both prove ready to contribute, Pittsburgh could wind up with one of its deepest receiver rooms in some time.
For a player who looked like he was drifting toward the edge, that’s a significant turnaround. Wilson isn’t locked into the third receiver role yet. But by every early indication, he’s doing exactly what he needs to do.
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Steelers Backfield Shift Is Putting Jaylen Warren In A Tough Spot
The first week of Steelers training camp has already offered a notable early signal in the backfield, with Rico Dowdle stepping into a prominent role as the team works through drills under new head coach Mike McCarthy. For a position group that looked different a year ago, the early pecking order matters, and Dowdles place with the starters has put a fresh spotlight on how Pittsburgh wants to sort out its running game before the real evaluations begin.
Jaylen Warren, meanwhile, is the obvious name watching this unfold, because a return to camp prominence for one back often comes at the expense of another. Pittsburgh still has time to sort through the rotation, and camp is built for exactly this kind of competition, but the early shape of the depth chart hints at a backfield conversation that could linger well beyond the first week. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers May Already Be Leaning Toward An Unexpected O-Line Starter
The first week of Steelers training camp has already offered a decent clue about one of the offenses biggest remaining questions. While most starting spots were largely settled, the right guard and right tackle jobs are still up for grabs, and Spencer Anderson has been the player handling all the first-team work at right guard so far.
For a former seventh-round pick from 2023, that is a notable step in a steady climb. Anderson has gradually earned a larger role since arriving in Pittsburgh, and the way the early reps have broken down suggests he is moving from useful depth piece to legitimate starter consideration as the team sorts out its line for the coming season and beyond. [Read more 🡒]