As Christmas arrives, the Pittsburgh Steelers remain in full control of their own destiny this season.
While most of Steelers Nation have time to enjoy Christmas and the holiday season, some are not as happy.
Several players have stood out for positive reasons, including Alex Highsmith, Brandin Echols, Aaron Rodgers, and others. Different teammates have also shown signs of struggle this season, and it could be forcing the team into buyer's remorse as these Grinches on the club create an undesirable smoke around Christmas.
Either the player hasn’t lived up to expectations, hasn’t justified the massive contract they received, or has failed. Several key members of Pittsburgh's club have struggled to stay relevant on the team. It's unknown what their future may hold with the Steelers after the campaign concludes, creating a potential disaster in some cases for these Grinches of the season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have witnessed some disastrous seasons by these players
Roman Wilson, WR
Few members of the Steelers have struggled to live up to the hype more than Roman Wilson. There was a clear path for him to become a key piece of their offense, but he has failed to meet expectations. It doesn't seem obvious, but there is a reason why the franchise went out and added Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Adam Thielen to play over Wilson. It's forced him out of the lineup.
Many thought Wilson would take a massive jump in his second year in the NFL after missing his entire rookie campaign with injury.
Pittsburgh saw him produce a fantastic preseason, and the sky seemed to be the limit for him. Sadly, his targets throughout the schedule have been limited, and things just haven't panned out. Wilson has a ton of talent, but for one reason or another, that hasn't translated into results.
READ MORE: Adam Thielen’s struggles make Steelers move on Roman Wilson look worse
T.J. Watt, EDGE
Some might be surprised to see T.J. Watt make the list of Grinches of the season, but it's fair. He received a massive contract extension in the offseason after wanting to be more compensated than his rival, Myles Garrett. The Steelers leaned into his desires and ponied up a ton of cash to make his wishes come true. They signed an aging star defender to a massive deal that they are stuck with.
Watt remains a quality player, but he isn't worth the amount of money he signed for. To add insult to injury, Garrett is playing for cheaper and is about to break Watt's shared single-season sack record. Garrett has shown he can become consistent with age and find ways to attack the passer, while Watt refuses to change. The Steelers might have a serious problem on their hands in the near future.
Jonnu Smith, TE
Other than Wilson, Jonnu Smith might be the biggest disappointment on the offensive side of the ball for Pittsburgh. He was traded in the Minkah Fitzpatrick deal, which also saw Jalen Ramsey join the black and gold. Smith even received a pay increase once he joined the Steelers, but he hasn't lived up to the hype. He has been overshadowed by Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington this season.
It's not all on Smith, as Pittsburgh doesn't seem to have a plan for the veteran tight end.
They have tried to use him as a gadget player at times, but he is a terrific pass catcher over the middle, a spot the offense refuses to attack. There was never a plan to use Smith and their talented tight ends to their advantage. Instead, they have a sports car sitting in the garage collecting dust this year.