When the Pittsburgh Steelers spurned Roman Wilson for Adam Thielen, much of the fanbase was upset. Wilson, a third-round pick in 2024, flashed when given the opportunity this year (though his contributions were inconsistent). But with Thielen, there was never any upside.
In his first 11 games of the 2025 season with the Minnesota Vikings, Thielen reeled in just eight of 18 targets for a mere 69 yards (3.8 yards per target). Quarterbacks had a combined passer rating of just 55.1 when targeting the 35-year-old veteran, and there's a reason the Vikings were okay with granting his request to be released from the team.
But Thielen's struggles on the Steelers make the decision to bench Wilson look even worse.
In Thielen's first two games with Pittsburgh, the long-time receiver has seen the field for 63 offensive snaps. He's turned this opportunity into just two receptions for 11 yards. This is just 5.5 receiving yards per game for a player who has now been thrust into No. 2 action.
These numbers get uglier the further you break them down. Thielen is averaging a dismal 0.4 yards per route run and 0.17 yards per offensive snap. And when you watch the aging receiver on tape, it's clear that he cannot create separation.
As a result of Thielen's underwhelming performances, he has an overall PFF grade of just 48.2 in his first two games with the Steelers. This is somehow down from his 51.5 overall grade in his first 11 games with the Vikings. If Thielen's PFF grade with Pittsburgh were to qualify for a ranking, it would be dead last in the NFL out of 130 qualifying NFL receivers.
The Pittsburgh Steelers made a mistake stunting Roman Wilson's development for Adam Thielen
While Roman Wilson was hardly perfect, given his opportunity in the starting lineup, he at least flashed promise and upside. Against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football in Week 8, Wilson recorded four receptions on five targets for 74 yards and a touchdown. Wilson's production in this lone contest nearly matched Thielen's season total through Week 15 with 20 targets (80 yards).
Wilson, meanwhile, was ableto turn his 21 targets on the season into twice the production (166 yards and a touchdown). Steelers quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph also have a combined quarterback rating of 114.4 when looking in his direction.
Though the Steelers have experienced more success in the passing game over the past two weeks, this is purely coincidental. Pittsburgh had the privilege of beating up on suspect defenses that lack pass rushers to get after the quarterback. It's also the result of Aaron Rodgers simply being sharper as a passer and more accurate on intermediate and deep throws.
Mike Tomlin will never fess up to it, but the Pittsburgh Steelers head coach made a mistake spurning the 24-year-old Roman Wilson for a 35-year-old Adam Thielen. It's not too late to go back.