When will Roman Wilson make his Steelers debut?
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie WR Roman Wilson ramped up his follow participation this week, however what does that imply for Sunday? Solely Mike Tomlin goes to have the ability to reply that query, maybe 90 minutes earlier than kickoff. Whereas he practiced in full on Thursday, Wilson was listed as restricted once more on Friday, however nonetheless managed a Questionable designation for Sunday’s recreation.
The Steelers’ third-round select of Michigan, Roman Wilson misplaced an enormous chunk of his offseason as a result of damage. He was starting to impress when he suffered an ankle damage 4 days into coaching camp. Wilson missed the remainder of camp however has been again working for the reason that common season started.
He didn’t play within the Steelers’ season opener, however Wilson seems to be getting in additional work this week. He says himself that he believes he is able to go, however you realize gamers aren’t all the time their greatest advocates. And sliding again from full to restricted by the top of the week isn’t encouraging, particularly not for a rookie.
Past that, even when Roman Wilson is wholesome sufficient to play, that’s solely the first step. Availability is the naked minimal qualification for participation in an NFL recreation. The fact is he doesn’t have any type of position on this offense as a result of he hasn’t been round. That’s by way of no fault of his personal, after all, quite as a result of damage, however it’s no much less true.
Not that the Steelers have bountiful assets at extensive receiver, which is Wilson’s best benefit. Outdoors of George Pickens, the Steelers’ extensive receivers didn’t do a lot receiving within the opener. Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III every caught one go, combining for eight yards. Scotty Miller wasn’t even focused, but he contributed greater than all of them through particular groups.
One factor we all know is that the Steelers ought to have a helmet accessible for Wilson. They elevated WR Ben Skowronek from the follow squad for the opener, so in the event that they need to gown the rookie, all they must do is just not elevate him once more. They’ll solely elevate him two extra occasions earlier than he loses eligibility, anyway.
If Tomlin feels he’s seen sufficient from Wilson, even with restricted participation on Friday, they usually can discover particular groups snaps to make up for the 11 Skowronek performed final week, there may be not less than a slight probability he might play this week. However contemplating he’s listed as Questionable to play this week, one would think about he has a reasonably good probability of enjoying the week after, not less than from a well being standpoint.
One other recreation with minimal receiving contributions from the opposite extensive receivers would definitely encourage Arthur Smith to discover a place for Wilson on the sphere sooner quite than later. Then once more, if Van Jefferson and Scotty Miller make some performs, they might be even much less inclined to hurry Wilson into the combination.
The Steelers’ 2024 season is right here, following one other disappointing yr that culminated in a first-round playoff loss. The one change-up within the annual method these days is whether or not they exit early or miss the playoffs altogether. They’ve had an extended offseason for the reason that Buffalo Payments stamped them out of their distress again in January.
The most important query hanging over the group is the quarterback query. Does Russell Wilson make them a Tremendous Bowl-caliber group, or are they losing a yr? How will the group proceed to deal with the depth chart?
The common season is right here, following weeks of camp and preseason video games. The Steelers made quite a few strikes by way of signings and commerce—and launch. Greater than typical, they appeared comfy creating holes, assured they will fill them. Some they managed to fill, others not a lot. Now that we’ve so many items of the puzzle, nevertheless, we merely have a brand new set of inquiries to ask.
