Second-year Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson was a healthy scratch for the first time versus the Baltimore Ravens on December 7. The same could occur for the Monday Night Football matchup against the Miami Dolphins.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac reported the Steelers are adding wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to their 53-man roster Monday. Valdes-Scantling will be active for the Week 15 matchup versus the Dolphins.
“MVS was going to be elevated from the practice squad for tonight’s game, which would’ve been his second of three allotted ‘elevations,'” wrote Dulac on X.
With Valdes-Scantling added, the Steelers will now have eight wide receivers on their active roster. In the same situation before Week 14, the Steelers made Wilson and fellow receiver Ke’Shawn Williams inactive.
Wilson hasn’t made a lot of strides in his development this season. At least, he hasn’t made enough to stay ahead of Valdes-Scantling and other veterans, such as Adam Thielen, on the depth chart. In 12 games this season, Wilson has posted 12 catches for 166 yards and two touchdowns.
The Steelers will officially announce their inactive players list for the Dolphins showdown at 6:45 pm ET Monday. Kickoff between the Steelers and Dolphins will occur at 8:15 at Acrisure Stadium.
Steelers Sign Marquez Valdes Scantling: Report
Based on Dulac’s report, the Steelers were going to make Valdes-Scantling part of their Week 15 game plan regardless. The team’s plan to elevate Valdes-Scantling for the Dolphins matchup would have the same effect — too many receivers and Wilson possibly a healthy scratch.
But the Steelers signing the veteran receiver is an even worse sign for Wilson.
The official addition of Valdes-Scantling to the Pittsburgh 53-man roster is a sign the Steelers want the veteran playing a role the rest of the year. That could make Wilson an odd-man out beyond just Week 15.
The Steelers run fewer plays than any team in the league. They also run the ball a lot, and the offense often features multiple tight ends.
That doesn’t leave a lot of opportunities for wide receivers.
Still, Wilson’s production has been a disappointment. Before being a healthy scratch in Week 14, he hadn’t registered a catch in the past two games.
Wilson has more than a single reception in just three contests this season. He’s eclipsed the 35-yard mark just once. A portion of his 166 receiving yards this season have also come in the fourth quarter of games already decided.
Steelers Receiver Depth Entering Week 15
Pittsburgh had a shallow receiving corps coming into the 2025 season. The depth has grown with midseason additions, but the team is largely still waiting for a WR2 to emerge.
DK Metcalf leads the Steelers with 52 catches, 753 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Calvin Austin III is second on the team in receiving yards. However, Austin has just one game with five catches and 50 receiving yards this season.
Metcalf, Austin, Valdes-Scantling and Thielen are pretty much all guaranteed to be active versus the Dolphins. The special teams play of Ben Skowronek makes him a must-dress player as well.
Wilson, Williams and Scotty Miller are the other receiver options on Pittsburgh’s active roster. On Tuesday, head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters the team dressed Miller and left Wilson inactive because Miller could return punts if needed.
Steelers’ Roman Wilson Gets Bad Sign Hours Before Week 15 Matchup