It was 18 months to the day since he’d become a Pittsburgh Steeler when Roman Wilson had his breakout performance.

During Sunday’s loss to the Green Bay Packers, Wilson had the Steelers’ longest play from scrimmage (45 yards) and their longest touchdown (21 yards) in addition to leading the team in receiving yards (74).

Those 18 months, to some, might have felt like 18 years. Wilson endured an ankle injury early during the 2024 training camp that delayed his NFL regular-season debut. Then came the indignity of healthy scratches from the coaching staff, followed by a hamstring ailment that landed him on injured reserve to end his rookie season.

Then, Wilson failed to launch in 2025, averaging just 11 snaps per game with just one catch over the first four weeks of the season.

Was he underachieving? Was he in the proverbial doghouse? Could he simply just not outplay other receivers — Scotty Miller or Ben Skowronek — on the depth chart?

Was Wilson turning into the dreaded “B” word — a bust?

Now that he’s finally proven he can play, coaches and teammates say he’s merely been building to this level since he was drafted with the 84th overall pick April 29, 2024.

“You can give a million examples of guys that it doesn’t happen right away for different reasons,” Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith said this week, referring to Wilson but referencing young, high-pedigree players in general. “Guys get injured, or guys are behind a couple of great players — and then they get their shot.

“You’ve got a guy with the right mindset, and he works hard — it’s usually a direct correlation — and it’s cool to see it pay off. We’ve seen that with a couple of guys. It’s nice to see that for Roman because he’s put a lot of work in there.”

While the Steelers continue to search for a No. 3 wide receiver — as they have over the two years Wilson’s been on the roster — Wilson over the past two games has been exactly that.

Wilson played more than half of the Steelers’ offensive snaps during the losses to the Cincinnati Bengals on Oct. 16 and the Packers 10 days later. His seven catches for 91 yards over that stretch rank second among Steelers wide receivers to DK Metcalf. (Calvin Austin III missed the Cincinnati game because of injury.)

Wilson is showing some of the tenacity and ability he displayed while leading the 2023 national champion Michigan Wolverines in catches, receiving yards and touchdowns — the latter figure (12) among the top 10 in the nation.

“Roman’s been the same player since I first got here,” said Metcalf, who joined the Steelers via trade this past March. “Very dynamic, very fast, good hands, very good attention to detail in how he goes about his business every day, very willing to listen and being very coachable.

“So it’s just a joy having him in the same room, because a guy that loves football that much and loves this game, you’ve got to get an extra motivation and juice whenever you go out there on the field.”

For his part, Wilson believes his recent emergence is merely a byproduct of just getting the opportunity.

“I’ve just been working hard,” he said, “and really listening and showing up at practice and proving myself.”

One of the most important people in the organization — in regards to helping Wilson succeed — took notice.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers took a liking to the young Wilson from when they first got together for workouts this summer after Rodgers invited all of the Steelers receivers to his place in Malibu, Calif.

“I told him back then, ‘I’m going to coach you to your potential, not to what I’m seeing,’” Rodgers said this week. “So, I’m going to hold him to a high standard, and I was really proud of him in the game for the couple reaction plays that he made, and we just need to see consistency from him.

“I really like his attitude.”

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)