INDIANAPOLIS - Roman Wilson, the Pittsburgh Steelers' wide receiver, has faced a challenging start to his NFL career. In his first two seasons, Wilson has managed just 12 receptions for 166 yards and two touchdowns over 13 games. Injuries sidelined him during his rookie year, limiting him to a single game appearance.
Despite these setbacks, Steelers general manager Omar Khan remains optimistic about Wilson's potential. Speaking at the NFL Combine, Khan expressed his belief in Wilson's talent and anticipated contributions.
"I think Roman’s a talented player and I expect him to contribute," Khan stated. He acknowledged the hurdles Wilson faced, including injuries and limited opportunities, but emphasized the coaching staff's enthusiasm to work with him.
Drafted in the third round out of Michigan, Wilson found himself a healthy scratch late last season as veteran receivers Adam Thielen and Marquez Valdes-Scantling were favored by quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Khan noted the complexities of the past seasons, citing various challenges but expressing confidence in Wilson's future impact.
Among those backing Wilson is Steelers long snapper Christian Kuntz, who highlighted Wilson's relentless work ethic on his podcast. "People think the production wasn’t there the first two years - they’re calling him a bust.
They don’t know that he’s working his tail off," Kuntz said. He firmly believes Wilson's dedication will soon yield results.
With new head coach Mike McCarthy at the helm, all eyes will be on Wilson to see if he can make a significant leap in his third year. The Steelers are counting on him to rise to the occasion and prove his critics wrong.