Aaron Rodgers Issues Stern Wake-Up Call to Steelers WR

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is no stranger to mentoring young wide receivers.

He did it in Green Bay with Randall Cobb, Jordy Nelson, Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, Christian Watson, and Romeo Doubs. He did it in New York with Garrett Wilson and Xavier Gipson. And now he’s doing it in Pittsburgh with Roman Wilson.

The 24-year-old wideout who played just five offensive snaps as a rookie and missed most of his rookie year after suffering an ankle injury during the preseason and a season-ending hamstring injury in Week 6.

While speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Rodgers gave a blunt assessment of the former Michigan star, including his opinion of what could be holding the second-year WR back from becoming a budding star.

“I’ve got to get Roman out of his head a little bit,” Rodgers stated. “He’s such a good kid, he cares so much about whether it’s my approval or he’s doing it right, and he’s just got to trust himself because he’s so [expletive] talented.

“The more he can play free and not think out there, the better he’s going to play, so the more he can trust what he’s got and just go out and attack, the better he’s going to play.”

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After missing most of his rookie year, Wilson, who caught 48 passes for 789 yards and 12 touchdowns during his final season at Michigan, is likely eager to make an impression on his teammates and coaches, especially with the No. 2 WR job open after the team traded George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys earlier in the offseason.

Over the last few practices, Wilson and Rodgers have seemed to be developing a strong rapport. The consensus among reporters was Tuesday was Wilson’s best day of training camp so far — and the more he works with Rodgers, and the more he takes the coaching from his new QB, the easier life will be for offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.

“No matter where you go, when you’ve got new guys coming around who have been in different things, it takes a second for it to click,” Wilson said. “[We’ve got to] just keep working on it. … Just trying to be open at all times. I want [Rodgers] to want to use me. I want to be that guy.”

Wilson’s main competition behind DK Metcalf is Robert Woods, Calvin Austin III, and Scotty Miller.

Austin has the most returning experience under Smith, logging 36 receptions, 548 yards, and four touchdowns last season.