Pittsburgh Steelers’ Roman Wilson Looks to Rebound After Difficult Rookie Season
PALM BEACH, Fla. – Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson had a challenging introduction to the NFL, playing just five snaps throughout his rookie season. His limited playing time was largely due to injuries, as he suffered both a high ankle sprain and a hamstring strain, significantly restricting his availability. However, injuries alone were not the only factor in his minimal contributions.
In February, Steelers.com’s Bob Labriola shed light on another critical issue that may have played a role in Wilson’s lack of playing time—his struggles with learning the team’s offensive system. Labriola suggested that Wilson’s limited grasp of the playbook prevented him from being a viable option for game action, particularly as the season progressed.
Struggles with the Playbook
Labriola explained Wilson’s situation in response to a fan’s question, emphasizing the stark difference between working hard in practice and being truly prepared to contribute during meaningful games.
“Working one’s ‘tail off and doing good in practice’ is miles away from being ready to contribute down the stretch of an NFL regular season after being injured on the sixth snap of the first practice in pads of training camp and then not playing a snap in the preseason,” Labriola wrote in his mailbag. “My understanding of the situation is that at no point was there a legitimate level of confidence that Roman Wilson understood the offense and his responsibilities within it to the degree that would allow him to execute it at game speed during the stretch run.”
Head Coach Mike Tomlin Provides Clarity
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin addressed Wilson’s struggles on Monday, offering additional insight into what had held the young receiver back and what the team expects from him moving forward. Tomlin acknowledged that while Wilson was physically healthy by the end of the season, his lack of football readiness was a separate issue.
“He was healthy, but healthy and football readiness were two different things, to be quite honest with you,” Tomlin explained. “When you’re coming back from injury, you’re essentially getting on a moving train. That’s the analogy I like to use. We’re talking about a guy who had very little NFL experience. He was healthy at the end of the year, and he was working extremely hard in practice, but a real avenue never presented itself due to the misfortune of others or what have you, for him to contribute.”
Tomlin emphasized that the team has high expectations for Wilson in his second season, believing that he can make the leap from an underwhelming rookie year to a key contributor.
“We’re expecting really good things for him in his second year,” Tomlin said. “I think that’s a reasonable expectation. From time to time, guys get faced with injury and it derails their start, but by no means do we feel like it’s going to define his career.”
Tomlin pointed to wide receiver Calvin Austin III as an example of a player who overcame a difficult rookie season marred by injuries to eventually carve out a role on the team.
“Calvin missed a significant portion of his rookie year, similar to Roman,” Tomlin continued. “Over the last two years, he’s moved past that and become a real positive contributor to our efforts. We expect similar things from Roman.”
Looking Ahead: Wilson’s Second-Year Challenge
The Steelers had designated Wilson to return from injured reserve late in the season, giving him two weeks of practice before the team’s campaign came to an end. However, even if he had been fully healthy, he likely wouldn’t have been activated for those final games. The coaching staff did not believe he was prepared enough to contribute effectively.
Now, heading into his second season, Wilson finds himself in a critical period of his young career. With only five snaps of NFL experience under his belt, he will need to make a strong impression during the offseason program while ensuring that he stays healthy. If he can demonstrate his understanding of the offense and prove his ability to execute at a high level, he has a chance to carve out a meaningful role in Pittsburgh’s receiving corps.
For Wilson, the upcoming offseason represents an opportunity for redemption—a chance to move past his injury-ridden and unproductive rookie campaign and prove that he belongs on the field. The Steelers have faith in his talent, but it will ultimately be up to Wilson to translate that potential into performance when it matters most.
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