The Pittsburgh Steelers upset the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, once again proving why you can’t count this team out. Seemingly down and out heading into this game, Pittsburgh rallied behind a rejuvenated offense to knock off its division rival in a critical AFC North matchup.
But while the win was encouraging, the team also made its stance on a former third-round pick unmistakably clear.
One of the biggest storylines from the game was Roman Wilson being a healthy scratch. After appearing to rise into the No. 2 receiver role midseason, Wilson has landed back in the doghouse with no clear path to playing time.
Instead, the Steelers suited up newly acquired Adam Thielen and practice-squad call-up Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Their combined production? Two targets, one catch, and four yards.
For Wilson, this is a troubling sign. It strongly suggests the Steelers no longer see him as part of their plans moving forward.
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After missing most of his rookie season, Wilson flashed real growth this offseason. It didn’t lead to immediate success, but he eventually settled in around midseason. After Week 6, he became a regular contributor and even had a breakout performance against the Packers—though much of it came in garbage time.
Still, the offense sputtered badly during that stretch. Wilson wasn’t the sole culprit, but as the team’s second receiver, he was part of a unit that couldn’t find a rhythm. He and Aaron Rodgers never seemed fully aligned.
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The Ravens game didn’t bring an explosion from the rest of the receiver room either. The headline was DK Metcalf dominating Baltimore after several quiet weeks. Beyond that, contributions were minimal.
But Wilson being declared the odd man out speaks volumes. The Steelers clearly view him as a depth piece at best, and any hopes of him developing into a long-term starter should be tempered.
It will be worth watching whether Pittsburgh continues to deactivate Wilson in the coming weeks. Thielen likely maintains a role, but Valdes-Scantling’s usage remains uncertain.
Regardless, there’s little reason to be optimistic about Wilson’s future in Pittsburgh. The team has repeatedly shown lukewarm confidence in him, and Sunday’s benching only reinforces that reality. For a recent third-round pick, it’s a disappointing development.