2025 Steelers Camp Preview - Roman's Time Is Now

For Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson, the 2024 season was an example of his patience and perseverance. Drafted in the third round out of Michigan, Wilson entered the league with high expectations — a polished route runner with 4.3 speed and a knack for clutch catches. But injuries derailed his rookie campaign before it ever truly began.

Wilson suffered an ankle injury during the first padded practice of training camp, followed by a hamstring setback that landed him on injured reserve. Though he was designated to return late in the season, he never saw meaningful snaps — not due to lingering physical issues, but because he wasn’t yet “football ready,” as head coach Mike Tomlin put it. Compounding the challenge was Wilson’s struggle to grasp the playbook, which further delayed his debut.

With George Pickens now in Dallas, the Steelers' wide receiver corps is noticeably leaner heading into 2025. Behind DK Metcalf and Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson has a prime opportunity to carve out a significant role in the offense. Wilson turned heads during OTAs, demonstrating a stronger grasp of the playbook and consistently making splash plays in drills. “I’ve taken care of my body at an elite level,” Wilson said. “I feel like myself again.”

Veteran wideout Robert Woods has praised Wilson’s work ethic and attention to detail, highlighting his explosive upside and surging confidence as camp approaches.

Now healthy, focused, and surrounded by a coaching staff that believes in his upside, Wilson has a big training camp ahead of him. If he continues to build on his offseason momentum, Roman Wilson could become the Steelers’ surprise weapon — a chain-moving, field-stretching receiver who helps redefine their passing attack.