Pittsburgh Steelers fans have been screaming for an upgrade at the wide receiver position since trading George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys on May 7. Though DK Metcalf was acquired via trade early in the 2025 offseason, this team doesn't have a capable No. 2 wide receiver... or at least that's what most fans think.
There's no guarantee Metcalf's long-term counterpart at receiver is currently on the roster, but Roman Wilson is already showing why he deserves a crack at the WR2 job.
In the preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Wilson started the game as the team's top wideout with Calvin Austin III sidelined and Metcalf getting the night off. Wilson only played on Pittsburgh's opening offensive drive, but on just 9 snaps, the young wide receiver didn't disappoint.
On the first offensive play of the game for the Steelers, quarterback Mason Rudolph hit Wilson for a 19-yard gain over the middle of the field. Wilson was working against 25-year-old standout cornerback and former 33rd overall pick, Tyson Campbell.
On this deep in-breaking route, Wilson set up his defender perfectly before exploding out of his break and creating a throwing window for Rudolph. The reception was accompanied by a defensive holding penalty against Campbell that was declined.
Two plays later, Rudolph threw a screen pass to Wilson to the left flats, and the second-year wide receiver was able to pick up five yards after the catch. Though the sample is incredibly small (one series), Wilson accounted for 22 percent of the Steelers' offensive touches and 37 percent of the team's offensive yards on an opening drive that resulted in a touchdown.
After this series, the Steelers decided they had seen enough from Wilson, and his night was finished.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are starting to see everything they hoped for from WR Roman Wilson
The Pittsburgh Steelers had high hopes for Roman Wilson when they selected him in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The leading wide receiver on a national championship Michigan team had a drop rate of just 2.3 percent in his final college season in 2023, and Wilson raised eyebrows with a dominant performance at the Senior Bowl.
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Unfortunately, Wilson's rookie season was quickly derailed by injuries before it even started. He suffered a high ankle sprain in the first padded practice of Steelers training camp in 2024, and when he was finally healthy enough to see the field, Wilson sustained a hamstring injury that landed him on IR.
These setbacks resulted in Wilson playing just five snaps during his rookie season. Because of his inexperience and inability to see the field, fans were worried about his potential impact in year two. However, it's safe to say that he's already starting to put these fears to rest.
It's too early to say without a doubt that Roman Wilson is capable of being a quality No. 2 wide receiver in the NFL, but his first preseason performance was an encouraging sign of things to come.