Roman Wilson: Camp Star, Preseason Struggles

Roman Wilson entered camp as one of Pittsburgh’s top performers, stacking strong practices and even taking meaningful reps on special teams — a clear sign of how much Mike McCarthy trusted him. But that momentum hasn’t carried into preseason action.

Against the Jets, both of Will Howard’s interceptions were thrown his way, and while the quarterback absorbs the blame, Wilson’s route execution played a part.

The issue hasn’t been separation so much as the finer details. On Howard’s second interception, Wilson created the space he needed, but instead of keeping the route perpendicular, he drifted. That slight fade gave the Jets defensive back the angle to undercut the throw — a small mistake with big consequences. It’s the same problem that surfaced last year: he wins early, but the precision breaks down late, and NFL corners punish that.

And that’s why his fit in this receiver room is suddenly uncertain. DK Metcalf is locked in as the X, Michael Pittman Jr. can line up anywhere at 6'4, Germie Bernard is a true Swiss‑army knife, and even Ben Skowronek has been more reliable and productive this preseason.

Wilson isn’t boxed out, but he hasn’t carved out a lane either. That makes Friday’s game against Buffalo critical — he needs a real, tangible emergence to prove he belongs in a rotation that’s getting harder to crack.