There’s a lot of reasons to be excited about the potential of second-round rookie wide receiver Germie Bernard. But that doesn’t mean he’s going to have a sizable role in Week 1 versus the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
That’s what head coach Mike McCarthy suggested with one of his non-answers to reporters on Labor Day. When asked whether Bernard would be the team’s WR3 behind DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr., McCarthy declined to offer much of a substantial response.
“We’ll wait until Sunday. I think you can understand that. I’m not here to give you lineups and things like that,” McCarthy said. “We have one opportunity to line up and play as a new team. Both schematically, line up personal groups and how we’ll do that.
“We’ll take advantage of this being Week 1.”
The Steelers will host the Atlanta Falcons at Acrisure Stadium in Week 1. Kickoff will be at 1 pm ET on Sunday, September 13.
Will Rookie Germie Bernard be Steelers WR3?
Most pundits expect third-year receiver Roman Wilson to be Pittsburgh’s WR3. At the very least, Wilson should get the first opportunity to prove he can be that for the Steelers offense this fall.
Wilson has two more years of NFL experience than Bernard. Wilson has also spent more than a year with veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Young receivers usually take time to develop chemistry with Rodgers, which has kept Bernard’s preseason expectations in check.
But Wilson’s up-and-down last few weeks appears to have left the door open for Bernard. At the very least, it’s open enough for the media to be asking questions about whether the rookie can be the team’s WR3.
McCarthy, though, made it very clear that performance and game flow will dictate the snaps.
More than likely, McCarthy does have a plan for whether Wilson or Bernard will open the campaign as the team’s WR3. But the head coach sees no advantage to giving one of the wideouts the title before Sunday.
Until then, both receivers will continue competing for the job. Furthermore, opponents will have to prepare for both receiver’s skillsets.
There are a lot of unknowns in the Steelers-Falcons matchup this weekend. Both teams feature first-year new head coaches. Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski could have an edge having beaten the Steelers in December with the Cleveland Browns. But his Falcons defense won’t feature Myles Garrett.
The Steelers offense could also look completely different under McCarthy this season.
In that Browns-Steelers December matchup, Wilson didn’t receive any targets. Meanwhile, Bernard was still in college at Alabama.
Bernard’s Chemistry With Aaron Rodgers in Mike McCarthy’s Offense
Wilson has yet to truly distinguish himself in a game setting. That’s even counting the preseason.
But Wilson appears to remain in front of Bernard on the depth chart. On Monday, McCarthy appeared to be trying to keep expectations in check for Bernard in part because of his rookie status.
Rookie receivers often struggle to perform well enough with sufficient consistency to be a valuable contributor immediately with Rodgers behind center. McCarthy didn’t say Bernard won’t contribute eventually this season. But he’s not there yet.
“Work in progress. I think it’s only natural,” McCarthy said Monday on the chemistry between Bernard and Rodgers. “You’ve got a veteran quarterback, especially with the level of offense that we’re designed to play, how we’re going to play, just specifically if you just look at the things that go on at the line of scrimmage, it’s new for any young player or any player that hasn’t played with [Rodgers.]
“But he’s making progress. He’s a young player, and he has a very, very bright future.”
Bernard showcased that bright future in the preseason. Catching passes from the other three quarterbacks on the Steelers roster besides Rodgers, Bernard posted five catches for 64 receiving yards with one touchdown.
Last season at Alabama, Bernard posted 64 receptions, 862 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games.
Steelers’ Mike McCarthy Shoots Down Question on Germie Bernard’s Week 1 Role