BB.Steelers Clarify Why Promising WR Isn’t Seeing the Field: ‘He’s Not in the Doghouse’
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson (10) during pregame vs. Seattle Seahawks. Kylee Surike | Special to PennLiveKylee Surike
PITTSBURGH — Roman Wilson had an encouraging summer at training camp, but the second-year Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver has yet to get going.
So, what could possibly be happening to keep Wilson off the football field? Wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni says it might not be as much about what Wilson is doing, but what the Steelers’ offense is doing.
Currently, the team leads the league in 12 personnel (2 tight ends, 2 wide receivers, 1 running back), and Calvin Austin III and DK Metcalf continue to take those snaps. When the team wants to go big for blockers, they go to Ben Skowronek.
Meanwhile, when the team has needed someone to step up in case of injury, the other star of the summer, Scotty Miller, is who they have turned to in those instances.
“Roman’s progressing. He’s doing a good job. You know, I’ve gotten that question a bit from a lot of people, and he’s doing great. There’s no ‘Roman’s in the doghouse’ or anything like that. Roman’s doing just fine,” Azzanni said on Tuesday. “We just happen to be pretty good at tight end and wideout and what we’re doing, running the ball. But Roman, he’s in the mix just like all the other guys. Obviously, his role will keep elevating as the season goes on, for sure. Organically. And it will just start to happen. I just tell him, ‘When it happens, be ready. Be ready for that opportunity.’ Just like that (recovering an) onside kick (against Minnesota). And he was.”
If Austin has to miss time with a shoulder injury suffered against the Minnesota Vikings, Wilson would be in contention to take over that role, but it seems Miller would be the first in line.
So, outside of that, what could the team really look to do with Wilson? For now, he has to keep grinding away at his role, which is mostly as a speedy slot receiver who can make explosive plays.
“It’s not just one person,” Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith said about replacing Austin. “I mean, it’s like week-to-week. … Certainly Roman, those other receivers, there will be more opportunities depending on what Calvin — how long they tell us, what’s really going on there.”
The preseason showed that Wilson has a skillset that can pop, even against starters. Wilson played just two drives against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but in that time, he beat starting cornerback Tyson Campbell on a crosser. He finished with two receptions for 26 yards, an impressive outing for him.
Against the Buccaneers, Wilson carried that momentum into his second preseason game. He dusted quarters coverage from Jamel Dean over the top on a post route, hauling in a 42-yard connection from Mason Rudolph. Later on, he would separate on a crosser easily, gaining a chunk of 30 yards on another reception.
However, the regular season is a different beast, and in order for Wilson to gain more snaps, he has to become more well-rounded as a player.
