The need for a WR2 has existed for the Pittsburgh Steelers since Diontae Johnson ran himself out of town. That feels like a decade ago, but it has only been since 2023.
Nonetheless, heading into a third straight season without a solid answer in that regard is far from ideal. But, at least the Steelers seem closer to an answer with two young wideouts battling for the spot on the depth chart.
Currently, the role belongs to Calvin Austin III. Believe it or not, he’s the longest tenured Steeler out wide and has shown steady improvement every year since missing his rookie season in 2022. While the job is his to lose, another wideout who missed his rookie season is hoping to loosen Austin’s grip on the position.
How Pittsburgh Steelers' Roman Wilson can turn opportunity into momentum amid WR2 race
Roman Wilson has an extra opportunity Saturday night in Pittsburgh’s preseason opener to gain some ground in the position battle. Austin is currently dealing with an undisclosed injury and won’t be suiting up for the contest. Presumably, that puts Wilson in a position to start against the Jaguars and take some crucial reps in live action.
Of course, Wilson won’t be catching passes from Aaron Rodgers, and he won’t be facing Jacksonville’s top defenders for long, but it will be the first time fans truly get to see Wilson work in his career. It’s a long-awaited chance at a rare second first impression for Wilson that he must capitalize on.
Naturally, Wilson isn’t going to steal the job in one preseason game, but he can make strides in the race and at least present his opening argument to eat into Austin’s snap and target share this season. But statistics won’t tell the whole story for Wilson Saturday night.
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While a big performance in the stat sheet will certainly be eye-catching, it’s unlikely and a poor thing for any wideout to judge his preseason performance on. Instead, Wilson needs to simply show that he can separate from coverage and present himself as an open target for his quarterback, whether it’s Mason Rudolph or Skylar Thompson.
If Wilson plays more than a few series in the game, he’ll be facing a level of competition that he should handle every down. He may not get all the targets, but every route and every block is a chance to win a one-on-one matchup. By showing the capability to be available to make plays, it's then that he makes some strides in the race for the WR2 job or as a rotational option with tight end Jonnu Smith in the slot.
Wilson has shown out in recent practices with Austin out of action. Some highlight reel plays will certainly help, too, but the main thing Wilson should be looking to do is show that he can do the basic things correctly and consistently. The rest, the fat stats and big plays, come naturally with opportunity, which will be much more valuable in the regular season.