The Pittsburgh Steelers get to sit back and relax this weekend as they work through their bye, but that hasn’t stopped fans from crying out for some change. Specifically, in the wake of some injuries last week, the fanbase wants to see a young talent finally get his shot.
That player is former third round pick Roman Wilson.
Despite having a strong summer in his second year with the Steelers, Wilson has since faded once the games started counting. He has all of two targets and one lowly reception for a mere seven yards.
Even worse, he has only logged 20 percent of the offensive snaps. It hasn’t been the rebound year many hoped for from the once-promising rookie.
Now, with Calvin Austin sidelined for the next few weeks, the hope is that Wilson can cement a role for himself during the bye week. It feels like fans are demanding it.
Fans want Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers to promote Roman Wilson
While we all hope that the former Michigan receiver finds his footing, things don’t look great for him right now.
He feels like the bottom man on the totem pole. While he saw 22 snaps on offense against the Seahawks (including his only reception), the past two weeks have seen him tumble down the depth chart.
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Ben Skowronek is the de facto third receiver for this team. His ability as a blocker is a massive aid there. However, it was Scotty Miller who saw the increased reps after Austin was injured in week four. Wilson remained an afterthought.
Now, Austin’s cemented number two spot is wide open, and in a perfect world, Wilson would be the main replacement. For one reason or another, the Steelers don’t seem inclined to utilize him, though.
While Mike Tomlin and the rest of the Steelers coaching staff are adamant that he isn’t in the proverbial doghouse, his lack of playing time says otherwise. It seems like Pittsburgh is intentional in keeping him off the field.
While Austin being injured opens the door for more snaps, Tomlin has to feel comfortable enough to give those to Wilson. While fans can pine for him as much as they want, until the team shows a willingness to get him involved, don’t be disappointed to see his muted sophomore season continue.