The Pittsburgh Steelers are hoping 2026 is the year Roman Wilson finally steps up and becomes the player they envisioned when they drafted him in the third round two years ago. Wilson only has 12 catches for 166 yards through his first two seasons, and all of that production came last year.
In other words, it's put up or shut up time for Wilson. This is his final chance to prove himself in the Steel City, or he'll surely be on his way out sooner rather than later if he doesn't start showing why he was a Round 3 selection. His opportunity to step up might have presented itself recently, as Michael Pittman Jr. has been dealing with a hamstring injury.
While Pittman practiced on Monday, it's still a storyline for Steelers fans to watch. Will Pittman be healthy enough to play against the Falcons in Week 1? If not, Wilson is going to be leaned on even more, and that's a terrifying thought. But it could be just what he needs to build some confidence.
Roman Wilson could finally get his chance to prove himself with Pittsburgh Steelers
Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers was asked about the injury to Pittman and shouted out Wilson in his answer, stating that he believes Wilson's improving.
"I feel great about DK [Metcalf] and Roman. They have had arguably two of the top five camps on the team. DK has looked unbelievable. Roman has gotten a lot better."
Rodgers isn't the type of guy to throw out some lame duck answer, so if he feels like Wilson is improving, then that should tell us something. That said, it's hard to get too amped up considering how lackluster Wilson has been so far in his career. He's been nearly invisible on offense and, despite what Rodgers said, didn't do anything flashy this summer.
Plus, as mentioned above, Wilson has just 12 catches in 13 games. Those are not good numbers for a guy who was drafted in the third round and expected to be a big contributor for the offense.
But the good news is that Wilson has to know this is the last chance for him to show he's still worthy of keeping around. If Pittman can't play or is limited due to the hamstring injury, Wilson clearly has Rodgers' trust, and that could pay dividends for the former Michigan product.
Obviously, Steelers fans want to see a healthy Pittman on the field for the Steelers, but if Wilson is able to step up and show he's a capable target, that'd be a huge win.
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