The Pittsburgh Steelers have been an emotional rollercoaster already in the 2024 season. They possess a 3-2 record through five games, and there have been bright spots, along with some serious concerns. A pair of bright spots have been rookies Zach Frazier and Payton Wilson, who have each seen considerable playing time and performed well. A concern has been the wide receiver position as a whole and the fact that rookie Roman Wilson has yet to be active for a game.
The Athletic
Steelers' Roman Wilson during a practice in Pittsburgh in 2024.
The wide receiver position was a major concern for the organization going into the 2024 season. In an attempt to combat this weak point, they made some offseason signings and selected Roman in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The front office also made a diligent effort to acquire star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk from the San Francisco 49ers. Roman has yet to be able to contribute during the regular season, as he suffered a sprained ankle that forced him to miss nearly all of training camp.
Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo hosted a chat with fans on Tuesday, and he was asked if Roman will ever get on the field in 2024. The rookie receiver became a full participant in practice ahead of Week 2, but hasn't been activated for a game yet.
"At some point yes, but he's not a teamer, so it's been tough for him to get a helmet."
Pittsburgh values versatility in their players, especially guys that can contribute on special teams. At this point, Roman isn't considered a special teamer, which is a big reason he hasn't been activated. He wouldn't be able to start immediately due to him being behind from missing training camp, and Pittsburgh needs their receivers at the bottom of the depth chart to contribute in the third phase of the game.
Sebastian Foltz / Post-Gazette
Steelers WR Roman Wilson getting coached during rookie minicamp.
There is a lot of promise and potential with Roman. The rookie receiver sprained his ankle on the first day of pads in Latrobe, which forced him to miss the rest of training camp and the entirety of the preseason. That's a lot of costly reps for a rookie to miss out on. Pittsburgh won't activate him until the coaching staff is confident he knows the playbook and knows he will be able to contribute.
Roman missed the season opener, as he was still recovering from his injury, but he has been a healthy scratch in the four games since. Fans were excited for the young receiver to make his debut due to his selfless demeanor and tenacity when blocking in the running game. Before getting injured in training camp, he was beginning to progress greatly as he was making a strong case to be a starter.
It is understandable that the rookie has a lot of catching up to thanks to the time he missed ahead of the season, but it was also concerning to see the Steelers activate Brandon Johnson off of the practice squad, rather than the rookie for their Week 5 matchup with the Dallas Cowboys. Johnson has two years of experience in the NFL, but it is surprising Pittsburgh didn't prioritize getting their rookie receiver on the field for the first time.
Steelers.com
Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson lines up and prepares to run a drill as the team practices during 2024 Organized Team Activities at the UPMC Sports Complex in Pittsburgh, PA.
Steelers Should Activate Roman Wilson In The Upcoming Weeks
Pittsburgh's rookie wide receiver should be making his NFL debut soon enough, especially if the passing game continues to struggle. It's been hard for Pittsburgh to find production at the receiver position outside of George Pickens, and even he has been unreliable as of late. The Steelers should try to insert the rookie into the lineup soon, as he could prove to be valuable with his sure hands and route running ability. Although it isn't promising since Head Coach Mike Tomlin didn't even mention the rookie receiver during his press conference on Tuesday.
When do you think the Steelers will activate Roman Wilson soon? Let us know in the comments below!
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