Steelers A to Z: After playing only 5 snaps as rookie, can Roman Wilson be WR2/WR3 in 2025?

Editor’s note: From now until reporting day to training camp at Saint Vincent College, TribLive is running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, looking at each player and assessing his outlook for the 2025 season. The breakdown will run in alphabetical order with at least two players each day between June 12 and July 23. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.

WR ROMAN WILSON

Experience/age: Second season, 24

Contract status: $1.31 million cap hit in 2025, signed through 2027

The past: Wilson capped a four-year career at Michigan by starting all 15 games and being named second-team all-Big Ten in helping the Wolverines to the national championship as a senior in 2023. Wilson led Michigan that season in catches (48), receiving yards (789) and receiving touchdowns (12) — the latter figure ranking tied for ninth in the nation. The 5-foot-10, 186-pound Wilson was a third-round pick (No. 84 overall) of the Steelers last year.

But Wilson suffered an ankle injury less than a week into training camp, keeping him out of the entire preseason. Though by Week 3 of the regular season he was eventually deemed healthy, Wilson had fallen behind and was a healthy scratch. It wasn’t until Oct. 13 in Las Vegas against the Raiders that Wilson dressed for a game — but even at that, he was limited to just five snaps (one on a passing down) and was not targeted. The following week, Wilson suffered a hamstring injury. He would land on injured reserve and spend the remainder of the season on it, though Wilson was cleared to practice during the final week of the regular season.

Now up at #BreakfastWithBenz—Calvin Austin’s and Roman Wilson’s actions need to speak as loudly as Omar Khan's words https://t.co/OdfJK5dq1K @TribSports @TribLIVE

— Tim Benz (@TimBenzPGH) May 28, 2025

2025 outlook: The Steelers expected immediate contributions from Wilson last year, and the lack of an acquisition of a bona fide veteran No. 2 WR all summer and autumn was exacerbated by the lack of play from Wilson. Injury, obviously, played a major role in that. But for Wilson’s second season, though the personnel has changed, it is much the same in regards to the Steelers WR corps and his place in it.

DK Metcalf got a five-year contract to serve as the alpha, but after that, the roles are wide open. It is still possible — perhaps even likely — the organization adds from the outside, but for now Wilson can reasonably claim to be an option as the WR2. Though over his first two college seasons Wilson lined up at varied spots, as a junior and senior he was almost exclusively a slot receiver. That spot is wide open for the Steelers, and Wilson perhaps even is the favorite to win the role. But veterans Roberts Woods, Calvin Austin III and maybe even Brandon Johnson, Ben Skowronek or Scotty Miller — or even undrafted rookies Roc Taylor and Ke’Shawn Williams — are jockeying for position. Wilson reported to summer workouts with the appearance of being in better shape. If he can stay healthy, he could easily end up with a starting role alongside Metcalf and Austin.