Can Roman Wilson keep building a larger role after finding some success against the Bengals?
Over the past two games, Roman Wilson logged 48 snaps, catching three passes on three targets for 29 yards. That doesn’t sound like much, but it is a beginning. The Steelers drafted him in the third round last year, but they haven’t utilized him enough to know if they get their money’s worth.
Of course, there are extenuating circumstances. Wilson dealt with injuries pretty much throughout his rookie season, limiting his opportunity to contribute. He missed so much practice time that the coaches didn’t feel comfortable playing him, which is common with rookies. This year, he has remained healthy but struggled to see the field.
Is the past week a sign of that changing? Last Thursday against the Bengals, Roman Wilson played 33 snaps, drawing two official targets. He caught both for 17 yards, but he also had a catch negated by a bogus holding penalty late in the game in a key situation. Had it counted, it would have been a big play. But then Aaron Rodgers threw the go-ahead touchdown to Pat Freiermuth, so sometimes things work themselves out.
Either way, that means Wilson played nearly 60 percent of the snaps and Rodgers looked for him three times. Granted, Calvin Austin III didn’t play in that game, so his return complicates things. The Steelers are still going to play their tight ends, which leaves little room for non-DK Metcalf receivers.
But the bottom line is this: If the Steelers believe Roman Wilson can make plays, they’ll find him snaps. And the more plays he makes with the snaps he does play, the more snaps he’ll earn. That tends to be how it works, but it’s understandable that people are less patient with a third-round pick.
After another disappointing season and months of retooling, the Steelers are set to try it all again in 2025. Though they limped into the playoffs, they once again embarrassed themselves therein.
Just like last year, the biggest question hanging over the Steelers isthe quarterback question. They settled in on Aaron Rodgers, but we still have a lot to learn about him. The2025 NFL Draft class could play a big role, but veteran additions like Jalen Ramsey will be paramount.
Now we are in the regular season. From Rodgers to George Pickens to Minkah Fitzpatrick and Ramsey, we’ve seen the Steelers make some big changes. Now it’s about evaluating the roster in place and figuring out how it all works out.
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