Roman Wilson entered Steelers camp with plenty of buzz, but the questions around him are getting louder again.
The Pittsburgh wideout, a 2024 third-round pick, had a rough start to his NFL career. Injury limited him to five snaps as a rookie, and in 2025 he managed only 166 yards and two touchdowns. That history is part of why every rep this summer has carried extra weight.
Aaron Rodgers added to the conversation earlier this week when he addressed a mistake Wilson made in practice that ended with an interception by Asante Samuel Jr.
"Roman made a repeat mistake,” Rodgers said. “That’s a good learning experience because I don’t think he’s going to do that again.
He did the same thing early in training camp, and we said, ‘hey, on that under route, you have to keep coming.’ I think it’s best that it happened in practice.”
Rodgers also made it clear that this wasn’t a case of a quarterback giving up on a young receiver. He said Wilson has made obvious strides, had one of the best camps on the team, and comes to him with questions often. The trust is still there.
Even so, Wilson has to show that the player entering the 2026 season is different from the one Pittsburgh has seen so far.
The preseason hasn’t exactly quieted the noise. Wilson drew plenty of attention in Latrobe because of all the hype around him, but the production has been thin.
He caught one pass for seven yards in the opener against the Green Bay Packers, and he was targeted on both of Will Howard’s interceptions against the New York Jets. Wilson was at least partly blamed for his role in both turnovers, and that’s where the concern really started to build.
There are still real reasons the Steelers are intrigued. Wilson has speed, can create separation from the slot, has good hands, and has the kind of traits that could also translate to work on the outside.
But the evidence so far hasn’t been strong enough to fully buy in. At this point, it’s fair to ask whether he’ll ever put it all together in Pittsburgh.
He’s also facing pressure from Germie Bernard, the second-round pick who is pushing hard for snaps. Bernard has already made a case as the more polished and talented receiver, even as a rookie.
Wilson still has a chance to prove he deserves a major role in a new offense, but the clock is ticking.
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Steelers Passing Game Suddenly Faces A Week 1 Concern
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Mike Tomlins offense may have to lean more on less experienced receivers and other pieces around the passing game if Metcalf and Pittman are not fully ready. That creates a different kind of Week 1 question for the Steelers, one with implications beyond a single game: whether the group can function well enough early on to keep the offense on schedule while its top names catch up on the work they lost in camp. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Face A Week 1 Problem They Werent Supposed To Have
The Steelers are heading into Week 1 with an unusual amount of uncertainty on the other sideline. Atlanta still has not named a starting quarterback for its opener in Pittsburgh, with the Falcons weighing Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. as the regular season approaches. Penix has only recently been cleared for full practice after a knee injury, while Tagovailoa has taken the lead in preseason work.
For Pittsburgh, the issue is less about which name is eventually announced than the preparation problem that comes with not knowing. The Falcons are the only team in the league without a starter set entering the regular season, which leaves the Steelers waiting on a key detail that should have been settled long before opening weekend. That kind of uncertainty can change how a defense studies film, plans its pressures and spends the final days before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Just Got A Familiar WR Safety Net Before Week 1
The Giants decision to release Darius Slayton right before the season opener immediately puts a familiar name back on the market for teams still looking for receiver help. For the Steelers, it is the kind of roster twist worth watching, since they have kicked the tires on Slayton before and remain in the kind of spot where added depth at wide receiver never hurts.
Slayton brings a long track record of NFL production, with 296 catches, 4,435 yards and 22 touchdowns across 106 games. Whether Pittsburgh turns that past interest into a real pursuit now is the open question, but a veteran pass catcher with that kind of experience suddenly available always has a way of drawing attention this close to Week 1. [Read more 🡒]