The Pittsburgh Steelers opened up the practice windows for three injured players on December 31 — rookie wide receiver Roman Wilson, veteran linebacker Cole Holcomb and rookie defensive lineman Logan Lee.
On January 1, Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith was asked about the Wilson move in particular, and he dropped a major hint about the 2024 third rounder’s potential playoff availability, or lack thereof.
“Arthur Smith said hopefully the Steelers are playing long enough that Roman Wilson becomes an option,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter Ray Fittipaldo relayed ahead of Week 18, adding that “it doesn’t sound like the rookie third-round pick will be activated back to the 53-man roster by Saturday.”
Needless to say, Smith’s assessment doesn’t exactly bode well for the youngster’s first-round status either. If the Steelers were to advance, however, perhaps Wilson might then enter the equation as a depth option that could provide a spark in the Divisional Round.
Steelers WR Roman Wilson ‘Feels Good’ Physically & ‘Determined’ Mentally
Wilson also addressed the media for the first time in a while on January 1. Steelers Now beat reporter Aaron Becker shared video of a portion of the interaction.
#Steelers rookie WR Roman Wilson says his body is feeling great.
“I feel really good. My body feels better than it’s ever felt in a long time. Mentally … just focused, determined. I got a lot of expectations for myself.”
“I feel really good,” Wilson told reporters. “My body feels better than it’s ever felt in a long time.”
He also expressed that he’s feeling “focused” and “determined” mentally.
“I got a lot of expectations for myself, and I got a lot of things I gotta do to be able to reach those goals,” he said.
It’s been a disappointing rookie season for Wilson from a fan perspective. But it’s also probably been very tough for the prospect from a personal standpoint.
After experiencing the highest of collegiate highs — winning a National Championship during his final year at Michigan — Wilson has barely even taken the field with the Steelers. Part of that has been due to injury, but there’s also been an emphasis from the Steelers coaching staff on utilizing their veteran wide receivers.
Needless to say, the transition from college to the pros likely hasn’t been easy on the rookie, so it’s good to see him motivated upon his return. It’ll be interesting to see if he factors into any portion of the Steelers’ 2024-25 playoff run.
Steelers Expected to Get Back Joey Porter Jr., Justin Fields & Ben Skowronek vs. Bengals in Week 18
There was good news on the Steelers injury front this week. On December 31, NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero reported that “QB Justin Fields and CB Joey Porter Jr. were listed as full participants in practice — a good sign they’ll be back Saturday vs. Cincinnati.”
Wide receiver Ben Skowronek (hip) was a full participant in practice on January 1 as well, as was the aforementioned Roman Wilson and running back Jaylen Warren (ribs).
The biggest question mark for Week 18 is probably veteran cornerback Donte Jackson, who is still dealing with a back issue. Jackson was officially limited on Wednesday after having no injury designation on Tuesday.
Holcomb (knee) and Lee (calf) — the other two injury returnees — were also “limited” on January 1. They are unlikely to return in Week 18 versus the Bengals and, similar to Wilson, their playoff availability is unclear at this time.
Pittsburgh has already clinched a postseason berth, but they’re still battling for seeding and they’d love to close out the regular season with a victory. For some extra motivation, they can also ensure that a division rival does not make the playoffs with a win — which serves as a nice little added bonus.
Comments
Steelers Drop Major Hint on WR Roman Wilson’s Availability After Injury News