With Steelers' DK Metcalf Suspended Mike Tomlin Is Excited For Roman Wilson's Opportunity To "Show Growth"

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the middle of a messy situation with star receiver DK Metcalf. Everyone has seen his recent altercation with a fan in Detroit, and it led to him being suspended for two games. He is appealing that decision, but it is highly unlikely that it gets wiped out entirely. The most likely scenario is that he still has to miss one game, but he still may miss that Week 18 contest as well if Pittsburgh clinches the division before then and decides to rest its starters. Either way, the team will have to deal without its top receiver. 

During his typical Tomlin Tuesday press conference, Head Coach Mike Tomlin was asked about what losing Metcalf means for the team. He spun it from a negative and used it to give lots of praise to another receiver that has been in the doghouse in recent weeks.

"One man's misfortune is another man's opportunity," Tomlin said. "A guy like Roman Wilson, for example, who has been working extremely hard and growing throughout the course of this thing, but had his role reduced in recent weeks. I'm excited for what this opportunity might mean for him to display growth in the midst of the time where he hadn't been participating to show his professionalism and his readiness and how he's been sharpening his sword for battle in the ranks while he hadn't been playing, for example."

Wide receiver Roman Wilson has been a healthy scratch for a few weeks now, and there was no certainty that he would play again this season. With Metcalf's suspension combined with a hamstring injury for Calvin Austin III, there is almost no chance that the second-year wideout will be inactive in Week 17. His workload, however, is still to be determined, especially since he has not played since Week 13. 

Wilson has not had an effective year so far. He has 12 receptions for 166 yards and a pair of garbage-time touchdowns on the season so far. He also had a fumble that could have been costly back in Week 9, but the defense luckily stepped up and bailed him out. In his last two games as an active player, he had four total targets, but not a single reception in either of those contests. 

Steelers Have To Figure Out A Way To Get Wilson On The Field

The big question here is how much he gets utilized in Week 17. Veteran receivers Adam Thielen and Marquez Valdez-Scantling have received the majority of the snaps outside of Metcalf, and there seems to be a comfort level with them. Those two will likely be the starters, and with the reliance on multi-tight end sets, there won't be a lot of 11 personnel to Wilson to take advantage of. 

However, the other two wide receivers are primarily blockers, so that means that Wilson would likely be the third wideout in the rare circumstances that the Steelers do go into 11 personnel. Ben Skowronek and Scotty Miller have shown their value on offense -- especially Miller with three straight catches in their latest Week 16 game -- so the former third-round pick will have to compete with them for blocking snaps to get on the field more.

When a receiver gets activated after being a healthy scratch for three straight weeks, there is not a lot of faith in the fan base that he will do well. However, Wilson is still a young player in a receiving core that is desperate for youth and speed. With the top two speedy options likely not playing, the former third-round pick will likely get a chance to show off his speed. He should get some chances in a potential division-clinching game.

What do you think about Tomlin's excitement for Wilson in Week 17? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.

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