Promising Pittsburgh Steelers rookie WR makes emotional NFL debut after battling injury
LAS VEGAS — Roman Wilson’s mom flew all the way from Michigan to watch her son make his NFL debut. Six months after Wilson was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, he finally got on the field, even if it was just for five snaps.
Wilson missed seven weeks after suffering a high ankle sprain during the team’s first padded practice at training camp on July 30. He was unable to log a full practice until the third week of the regular season, and has been a healthy scratch for the last three weeks while he built up his cardio and knowledge of the playbook.
Due to injuries to Cordarrelle Patterson and a need for outside linebacker help, the Steelers did not have room to elevate wide receiver Brandon Johnson. That left Wilson as the only option for the Steelers as their WR5, and he earned all his opportunities. The first time that Wilson took the field knowing he would play, the emotions did hit him, but Steelers coaches had prepared him for the moment.
“It was pretty cool,” Wilson said. “My teammates and coaches and everyone in this building did a good job of preparing me for this in other times when I wasn’t active. So, it wasn’t a big surprise when I was out there, but it felt pretty normal.”
Wilson’s first play of the game came on an explosive Najee Harris run in the second quarter. The Steelers asked Wilson to stalk block talented Raiders slot cornerback Nate Hobbs. Wilson got to Hobbs, though Hobbs had an inside track to Harris. But Wilson’s block was enough to hinder Hobbs that Harris could shed the block and scamper forward for 15 yards.
Even after the play, Steelers wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni hit the film room with Wilson to show him how he could hit the block even better.
“I can’t even really speak on it. It just felt like normal ball out there,” Wilson said of the play. “It didn’t feel like anything crazy. Obviously, guys are a lot faster and a lot stronger. At the end of the day, I’m here for a reason, too. Let’s play ball.”
Wilson’s five snaps will naturally grow as he adds more experience to his game. Yet, in front of his family for the first time as an NFL player, he got to take the field and showcase what he could do. It is a baby step, but this is the start of Wilson getting a much more significant role for the Steelers going forward.
