Following an offseason that saw Mike Tomlin leave the sideline and Mike McCarthy come in, football is finally around the corner. The Pittsburgh Steelers will start camp on July 28th and will run through Aug. 17 at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.
With new staff and systems being implemented, there are several players who will look to stand out. At the same time, receiver Roman Wilson is entering a pivotal camp in terms of his future with the team.
ESPN's Brooke Pryor released an article with her training camp previews. In that piece, Wilson was listed as a player to watch.
"The player out of Michigan was a healthy scratch down the stretch last season as the Steelers instead turned to late-season veteran acquisitions and practice squad elevations. Wilson never got his footing after suffering a training camp injury as a rookie in 2024, but he's in a prime position to contribute as one of McCarthy's coveted versatile pass catchers in Year 3. The first step to doing that is establishing a strong connection with Rodgers at camp."
While the pathway is there for him to be a contributor in 2026, he needs to make a statement this summer, as things haven't gone his way.
Roman Wilson has no room for error at Pittsburgh Steelers training camp
On the first day of camp in 2024, Wilson suffered an ankle injury that cost him the rest of training camp and all of preseason. That was a brutal blow for a rookie receiver who needed as many reps as possible. He returned to the field in Week 6 against the Las Vegas Raiders, playing just five snaps before leaving with a hamstring injury.
He ended up getting placed on the Reserve/Injured List, which cost him the rest of his season. In 2025, he still struggled to crack the rotation. In 13 games (four starts), he had 12 catches (21 targets) for 166 receiving yards and two scores. He was a healthy scratch as Brooke called out, which shows how he was viewed by the former staff.
Wilson never seemed to have a rapport built with Aaron Rodgers, and that is something he'll need to sharpen. And the path to more reps got harder, as Pittsburgh added Michael Pittman Jr. and Germie Bernard to the receiver room.
DK Metcalf and Pittman Jr. are the clear 1-2 duo, with Bernard and Wilson fighting for the WR3 spot. The Steelers used the 84th pick in the 2024 NFL draft on Wilson, yet he hasn't done much in the Steel City.
Being in a system led by McCarthy could help him out, as the coach has found plenty of success in the league. Nonetheless, Wilson hasn't done enough to solidify his future with the team. He needs to be a playmaker during camp and the preseason.
That will signal to the staff that he's ready to be a consistent contributor. If not, it'll be a hard uphill climb for the Michigan product. Going into his third year, Wilson needs this to be his best one, and he'll have the chance to prove it.
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