Expectations for wide receiver Roman Wilson entering 2026 probably couldn’t be much lower in the Pittsburgh Steelers fan base. But despite averaging fewer than a catch per game in his first two seasons, new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy still has high hopes for Wilson this fall.
McCarthy explained to reporters Monday how much Wilson could benefit from playing in a new system during 2026.
“I really had a great conversation with him the other day, just looking forward to working with him,” said McCarthy at the NFL’s annual league meeting, via Steelers Now’s Chris Ward. “New system, fresh start.
“I’m hoping he’s one of those guys that would benefit from it. I was impressed talking football with him. There’s a lot of people that have a lot of love for him in the building.”
Wilson entered the league as a third-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. But as a rookie, he didn’t make a catch in the only game he played. Wilson missed the rest of the season because of injuries.
During 2025, Wilson had 12 catches for 166 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games. He spent most of the end of the campaign as a healthy scratch.
Steelers’ Mike McCarthy Has High Hopes for Roman Wilson
Steelers fans are hoping the team has a fresh start in the post-Mike Tomlin era. There’s few players that need a fresh start more than Wilson.
Many pundits had high expectations for Wilson when the Steelers drafted him at No. 84 overall during 2024. But his rookie campaign started on a bad note almost immediately when Wilson suffered an ankle injury during his first padded training camp practice.
That sidelined the receiver until October.
But after playing in just one game, Wilson landed back on injured reserve with a hamstring issue. He played five offensive snaps with zero targets as a rookie.
In 2025, Wilson was unable to carve out a role despite the poor Steelers receiving depth. By December, the Steelers signed veterans Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Adam Thielen to replace him.
That left Wilson a healthy scratch.
With D.K. Metcalf suspended in the final two regular season games, Wilson received another chance to dress in Week 17. But against the Cleveland Browns, Wilson didn’t get a target while playing nine offensive snaps.
He didn’t play in Week 18 of the postseason.
Steelers WR Depth Entering 2026 NFL Season
Pundits could view McCarthy’s comments on Wilson as a bode of confidence. But how McCarthy and the team really feel about Wilson will be revealed in the NFL Draft.
The Steelers traded for Michael Pittman Jr. to start opposite Metcalf in 2026. Team beat writers expected that type of move.
But some insiders have also suggested the Steelers could draft a receiver early.
Should that happen, Wilson might get buried on the team’s depth chart.
Based on his production from 2024 and 2025, it’s not surprising the Steelers would do that. But Wilson won’t get much of a chance to show he’s improved if he enters training camp as WR4.
That’s the reality Wilson could face. But he would have a much better chance of earning playing time this season if the rookie receiver the Steelers draft is a Day 2 or 3 pick instead of a first-rounder.
Steelers’ Mike McCarthy Delivers Clear Message on WR Roman Wilson