It’s been a long wait for wide receiver Roman Wilson. A rookie season that didn’t go as planned, one lost to multiple injuries. A second season that began slow, Wilson spending most of his time on the sidelines. Pressure can mount for a third-round pick on an offense looking for a No. 2 receiver. But Wilson is making an impact. Not that his coach is surprised.
“It shouldn’t be a shock to anyone,” offensive coordinator Arthur Smith told reporters Thursday via the PPG’s Brian Batko. “You’ve got a guy with the right mindset and he works hard. There’s usually a direct correlation.”
Steelers OC Arthur Smith on Roman Wilson's breakout: "It shouldn't be a shock to anyone. You've got a guy with the right mindset and he works hard, there's usually a direct correlation." Smith said it's been good to see it all pay off for the second-year receiver.
— Brian Batko (@BrianBatko) October 30, 2025
Wilson logged a career-high 33 snaps in Week 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals. His two catches for 17 yards didn’t break the box score but a third sliding catch over the middle was negated by a hold. For Wilson, it was still a key play to move the sticks late in the game. Last Sunday versus the Green Bay Packers, Wilson had the best game of his career. He finished with four catches for 74 yards and his first NFL touchdown.
Wilson began the game with a 45-yard reception on third down, breaking his route off and making a toe-tapping grab for a big play.
He followed that with his first touchdown, making a contested grab late in the game. Initially ruled incomplete, officials overturned the call and awarded Wilson the score.
Wilson’s 74 yards against the Packers are more than he’s had in his career to date, entering the contest with just 36. The question is if he’ll be afforded the chance to keep making plays going forward. Pittsburgh has been more connected to the wide receiver trade market than any other team and a big splash of say, the Las Vegas Raiders’ Jakobi Meyers, would curtail Wilson’s opportunities. Even now, he’s fighting for snaps with Calvin Austin III, who returned from a shoulder injury last week.
A big move for a starting wide receiver would leave Wilson with few chances in Arthur Smith’s offense. And would show a lack of faith in Wilson despite his recent progress. As Smith says, there’s a “direct correlation” for young players who work hard and do the right things. There’s also a “direct correlation” between limited production and players becoming buried on the depth chart.
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