Sophia
Despite an impressive preseason showing, it appears second-year wide receiver Roman Wilson is facing an uphill battle for significant playing time with the Pittsburgh Steelers. As the team solidifies its offensive identity, Wilson’s path to becoming a major contributor seems increasingly narrow, raising questions about his future impact.
Limited Opportunities for Wilson
During an appearance on 93.7 The Fan, Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette indicated that the Steelers are content to move forward with their established group of skill position players. This strategy suggests Wilson will not be a featured part of the offense in the near future.
“It just seems like they’re gonna ride with [DK] Metcalf and [Calvin] Austin [III],” Fittipaldo stated, as reported by Steelers Depot’s Matthew Marczi. “Roman Wilson’s probably not gonna be a big part of it. They’re gonna be focused on the two starting wideouts, Jonnu Smith and Pat Freiermuth. And until there’s an injury, I just don’t see how Roman Wilson is a big factor in this offense.”
Fittipaldo added, “He had a nice camp and everything, but the preseason is the preseason. For whatever reason, whether it’s playing time or chemistry with [Aaron] Rodgers, he just doesn’t seem to be a big part of things at this point.”
Regular Season Struggles After Preseason Promise
Despite the Steelers carrying only five receivers on their 53-man roster, Wilson has seen limited action through the first three games of the season, logging just 41 offensive snaps. In that span, he has recorded only one reception for seven yards on two targets. While he has played more snaps than fellow receivers Scotty Miller and Ben Skowronek, this offers little solace given the overall lack of involvement.
The significant roles of tight ends Jonnu Smith and Pat Freiermuth, coupled with running back Jaylen Warren’s contributions in the passing game, have further diminished the targets available to the 2024 third-round pick.
A Rocky Road for Wilson
Wilson’s rookie season was largely derailed by ankle and hamstring injuries, limiting him to just five offensive snaps. There was optimism that he would turn a corner this year, especially after a strong preseason performance where he amassed 96 yards and a touchdown on four catches. This came after a slow start to training camp, during which quarterback Aaron Rodgers publicly stated his goal was to help Wilson “get out of his head.”
However, that preseason production has not translated to the regular season, leaving his role and potential impact in question. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if Wilson can carve out a more significant role as the season progresses, or if he will remain on the periphery of the Steelers’ offensive plans.
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Published Sep 26, 2025
JACK MARKOWSKI
Jack is a New Jersey native who graduated from the University of Pittsburgh as a Media & Professional Communications major in 2024 who is now covering the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Yankees for On SI.
