As of early June it appears Wilson will battle Calvin Austin for the WR2 role in Pittsburgh. This is a very run-heavy scheme under Arthur Smith and a lot of targets go to running backs and tight ends, so there isn't much upside for whoever wins this battle but the touchdown upside certainly increased when the team signed Aaron Rodgers. Austin showed flashes last year, but Wilson, who was injured for much of 2024, has more upside. Neither of these receivers should be drafted until the late rounds of deeper drafts and that may change if rumors of the Steelers searching for another pass catcher come to fruition.
Wilson recorded two receptions on four targets for 72 yards in Saturday's 17-14 preseason loss to the Buccaneers.
Wilson got the chance to start with DK Metcalf resting and Calvin Austin (abdomen) sidelined, and he took advantage by creating a few splash plays. Wilson got behind the defense for a 42-yard gain down the middle of the field late in the first quarter and then got wide open on the next drive to tack on another 30 yards. Wilson failed to gain traction in the Steelers' offense as a rookie after battling a few lower-body injuries, but he appears to be getting on track heading into his sophomore campaign.
... See More... See Less
Steelers' Roman Wilson: Opens camp with starting offense
Rotowire
Wilson opened training camp with the starting offense Thursday, Nick Farabaugh of Penn Live reports.
Wilson and DK Metcalf took the first reps in both 11 and 12 personnel, with Calvin Austin as the third receiver for three-wide sets (the same role he had last year). It's a sign the Steelers still have high hopes for Wilson, a 2024 third-round pick, after he was either injured or a healthy scratch for nearly all of his rookie season. In addition to Wilson and Austin, the competition for WR snaps behind Metcalf includes Robert Woods, Scotty Miller and Ben Skowronek.
... See More... See Less
Steelers' Roman Wilson: Has GM's confidence
Rotowire
Steelers general manager Omar Khan said Tuesday at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine that he has "a lot of confidence" in Wilson (hamstring), and that the wideout was on pace to contribute during the postseason had Pittsburgh advanced beyond the wild-card round, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reports.
Wilson, a 2024 third-round pick, was limited to a single regular-season appearance in his rookie campaign, but he at least now appears fully recovered from the hamstring issue that caused him to end the year on IR. He also missed time early in the season with an ankle injury sustained in training camp. If he can put together a strong offseason and remain at full health to enter the 2025 campaign, he could have a big role in Year 2. Wideouts Van Jefferson, Mike Williams and Ben Skowronek are all pending free agents for Pittsburgh.
... See More... See Less
Steelers' Roman Wilson: Rookie season spent on sidelines
Rotowire
Wilson (hamstring) suited up for one regular-season game in 2024 for the Steelers, playing only five offensive snaps and not getting a target.
Wilson's season wasn't what was expected when he was selected in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, as the Michigan product suffered an ankle injury in training camp that derailed his season. Even after he recovered, Wilson was a healthy scratch in Week 3 through 5 before making his debut in Week 6 against the Raiders. A hamstring injury then landed him on injured reserve, which is where he ultimately finished the campaign.
... See More... See Less
Steelers' Roman Wilson: Won't face Baltimore
Rotowire
Wilson (hamstring) is ruled out for Saturday's road wild-card round matchup against the Ravens, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Wilson won't be activated from IR in time to suit up Saturday, though he has consistently practiced in full since having his 21-day window opened. For another chance at returning for postseason action, Wilson needs the Steelers to emerge victorious over Baltimore and advance to the divisional round.
... See More... See Less
Steelers' Roman Wilson: Likely to sit out Sunday
Rotowire
Wilson (hamstring), who is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Jets, isn't expected to play, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Wilson was inactive for the Steelers' first five games of the season before making his NFL debut in last Sunday's win over the Raiders. He played just five snaps in the victory and may have sustained a hamstring injury at some point during Week 7 prep. He didn't appear on the Steelers' initial injury report released Wednesday, then was listed as a limited participant in practices Thursday and Friday due to the hamstring issue. Official word on Wilson's Week 7 status will arrive when Pittsburgh posts its inactive list 90 minutes prior to Sunday's 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff.
... See More... See Less
Steelers' Roman Wilson: Questionable for Week 7
Rotowire
Wilson (hamstring) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Jets, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Wilson made his NFL debut in the Steelers' Week 6 win over the Raiders, playing just five of the team's 67 offensive snaps and failing to record a stat. The Michigan product then popped up on Pittsburgh's injury report as a limited participant in practice both Thursday and Friday due to a hamstring issue, putting his Week 7 availability in jeopardy. If Wilson can't play through his hamstring injury Sunday night, expect Scotty Miller to see increased snaps in the Steelers' wide-receiver corps.
... See More... See Less
Steelers' Roman Wilson: Limited action in debut
Rotowire
Wilson didn't draw a target while playing just five of the Steelers' 67 offensive snaps in Sunday's 32-13 win over the Raiders.
Wilson made his NFL debut Week 6 after recovering from an ankle injury that caused him to miss the majority of training camp and the beginning of the 2024 campaign. The Steelers coaching staff decided to ease Wilson into action with a light snap count, but as the rookie from Michigan begins to get more acclimated, his playing time could increase.
... See More... See Less
Steelers' Roman Wilson: Healthy scratch for Week 5
Rotowire
Wilson (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Cowboys, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
The rookie third-round pick missed the first two games of the regular season due to an ankle injury and has been a healthy inactive for the last three. Wilson's next chance to make his NFL debut will be Week 6 against the Raiders on Oct. 13.
... See More... See Less
Steelers' Roman Wilson: Practicing in full Thursday
Rotowire
Wilson (ankle) was a full participant in Thursday's practice, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Wilson looks set to make his NFL debut versus the Chargers on Sunday after having spent more than a month working his way back from an ankle injury. The rookie third-round pick figures to compete with fellow wideouts Calvin Austin and Scotty Miller for offensive reps behind George Pickens and Van Jefferson.
... See More... See Less
Steelers' Roman Wilson: Logs another limited practice
Rotowire
Wilson (ankle) practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
Wilson wasn't able to suit up Week 1, but he's now logged four consecutive limited practice sessions to kick off the regular season. The ankle injury the rookie third-round pick suffered in training camp also prevented him from playing in any preseason action. The rookie seems to be making progress, but he'll likely need to upgrade to full participation in practice Thursday and/or Friday to have a chance at making his NFL debut this Sunday in Denver.
... See More... See Less
Steelers' Roman Wilson: Unavailable for Week 1
Rotowire
Wilson (ankle) is ruled out for Sunday's regular-season opener against the Falcons, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reports.
Wilson logged a trio of limited practices this week, but he isn't yet healthy enough to make his NFL debut. A left ankle sprain caused the rookie third-round pick to miss most of training camp and the preseason, but it appears he's been making good progress in his recovery. Wilson's next chance to play will come Week 2 on the road against Denver.
... See More... See Less
Steelers' Roman Wilson: Limited in Wednesday's practice
Rotowire
Wilson (ankle) was a limited participant in practice Wednesday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Wilson missed most of training camp and preseason due to a left ankle sprain, and while the rookie third-round draft pick has made some progress in his recovery, his status for Sunday's season opener against the Falcons remains up in the air. If Wilson is able to upgrade to full practice participation Thursday or Friday, he would likely avoid Pittsburgh's final injury report, which would pave the way for the wide receiver to make his NFL debut Sunday.
... See More... See Less
Steelers' Roman Wilson: Sheds walking boot
Rotowire
Wilson was spotted in training camp without a walking boot Sunday, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports.
Wilson sprained his ankle during practice Tuesday and subsequently donned a walking boot, though doing so was deemed a precaution. Head coach Mike Tomlin indicated Thursday that the rookie wideout is expected to be sidelined multiple weeks, so he's unlikely to play in the team's first exhibition game Aug. 9. However, the fact that he's no longer wearing a boot (Saunders indicated that Wilson is wearing a wrap instead) is a positive sign that the receiver will be ready to play Week 1 of the regular season.
... See More... See Less
Steelers' Roman Wilson: Pittsburgh snags in third round
Rotowire
The Steelers selected Wilson in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, 84th overall.
Wilson was widely expected to go sooner than this, but he falls to Pittsburgh here likely due to concerns about how well-rounded his skill set may be. The Michigan product is small at 5-foot-11, 185 pounds, and his generally strong 4.39-second 40-yard dash was actually a slight disappointment given that he was expected to be one of the three fastest receivers at the combine (his 4.39 was tied for sixth best). Still, Wilson is some version of very fast and should pose a consistent downfield threat in the NFL, even if he lacks other dimensions to his game. He risks getting cast largely as a speed decoy if he doesn't draw targets more consistently than he did at Michigan, however.
