The Pittsburgh Steelers saw the DK Metcalf experience spiral against the Lions. For those of you who missed it, Metcalf grabbed a fan he was jawing with and tried to hit him.
It was a horrible look from top to bottom for the star receiver.
The NFL did the right thing by suspending Metcalf, as actions like that are detrimental to the team overall. His suspension will be tough to overcome, though, as he is the star receiver for this offense. Losing him means you lack a true top weapon and further damages your receiver depth.
For Roman Wilson, this gives him a final chance to showcase his talent.
Wilson has been a healthy scratch for the past three games, benched in favor of the likes of Adam Thielen, Marques Valdes-Scantling, and Scotty Miller. Being buried that far on the depth chart is hard to overcome, but Wilson may finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.
The Pittsburgh Steelers may need Roman Wilson to step up
With Metcalf missing the next two games (assuming his appeal doesn’t impact anything), Wilson should be a quick favorite to get a helmet next week. This at least gives him a shot to play.
Calvin Austin also left the Detroit game with an injury. If he does play next week, it will likely be in a limited capacity. That further helps Wilson’s cause.
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Let’s be clear, though, this is his last chance. He has a few more snaps to prove that he is worth being on this roster.
No, Wilson won’t get cut if he continues his quiet stretch of games, but if he can’t find a way to produce with the depth at receiver shot, then it becomes clear how the Steelers view him. He isn’t a starter; he isn’t even a top backup.
Instead, he is a back of a roster option. A far cry from what you want a third-round pick to become.
The Steelers' receiver room is suddenly really weak. The design of this room was centered around Metcalf. He’s out. Austin was the big-play second option. He’s limited. Now, an elderly Thielen and inconsistent Valdes-Scantling will be the top two options.
Wilson needs to earn a spot and make some plays during this stretch. If he does, the team can view him in a different light heading into the 2026 offseason. If not, you can write him off as an option to help this team at receiver.