When the Pittsburgh Steelers used their third-round pick to draft Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson in 2024, excitement was high. With the wide receiver room in disarray, aside from George Pickens as the lone star, the Steelers were desperate to find a reliable second option. Many believed Wilson had the potential to step into that role as a rookie.
It's no easy task for a rookie to come in and make an immediate impact, though. Pickens managed it during his rookie season, and now the Steelers appeared to be banking on Wilson doing the same. Rumors even swirled about the team making a big trade to secure another receiver, but nothing materialized.
Unfortunately, Wilson sprained his ankle at the start of training camp. Now, as Week 6 against the Las Vegas Raiders approaches, he’s been practicing, but has yet to be called up to the active roster. With the Steelers still needing help at wide receiver, many fans are surprised Wilson hasn’t taken the field. Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith addressed the media on Thursday, shedding new light on what’s really going on with Wilson.
"You’re talking about a lot of time missed and you’ve got a player working very hard. I imagine it would happen sooner rather than later, but it’s not a you gotta meet this certain metric. A lot of it is getting back into game shape. Younger players have such a long way to go, but doing really well, making progress."
The Steelers seem to be taking a cautious approach with Wilson’s return to game action. Some speculate it could be a confidence issue, while others have noticed he looks a bit uncomfortable coming out of his breaks on routes. There’s clearly something going on, but it may not be a bad thing.
As Smith pointed out, Wilson is a rookie, and they want to ensure he’s fully prepared before throwing him into the fire of the NFL regular season. Smith is confident that Steeler Nation will see Wilson in action soon.
"I imagine it will probably happen sooner rather than later. When you miss all of training camp, it’s getting your legs back. It’s not like a guy who played four games and missed a week or two. There’s a lot of football conditioning and certainly young guys mentally too. Very pleased with all the progress he has made."
Smith has been pleased with Wilson’s progress, but the Steelers are being cautious with his return, which raises questions given their need for help at wide receiver.
This approach likely reflects their view of Wilson’s current readiness. Steelers fans are eager and curious to see if he can provide a much needed boost to the offense.
Steelers' Wide Receiver Room Has Been Below Average At Best
Right now, Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III are behind Pickens on the depth chart. While Austin has shown flashes of potential, Jefferson has been disappointing through the first five games.
The offense is in need of playmakers, and Wilson’s return could be a significant help. Though it’s unclear exactly when he’ll be back, Smith’s comments on Thursday suggest that Wilson’s return might be just around the corner.
