Steelers Roman Wilson's Growth Could Earn Him Major Role After Aaron Rodgers Praise

The Pittsburgh Steelers opened their second week of training camp with their first padded practice, marking another step in their preparation for the 2026 season. One of the team's biggest priorities under head coach Mike McCarthy is improving the offense. So far, the Steelers have placed a heavy emphasis on situational football and possession downs. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is well-versed in McCarthy's offense, believes one young receiver is primed for a breakout. This system could be exactly what Roman Wilson needs to reach his potential.

Rodgers joined The Pat McAfee Show and praised Wilson's natural ability and the progress he has made this offseason.

"To stick around in this league, you have to do something well," Rodgers said on The Pat McAfee Show. "To have a long career, you have to have an excellent trait, and his is his exceptional speed. He's always one of the fastest guys on the field at all times, if not the fastest guy. When he's using that speed, he's dangerous. The thing is, last year, he was like a deer running around, bouncing around. Now he's like a very finely tuned fast guy. He's playing under control with that top-end speed. He's had a really nice spring and a nice start to camp."

Wilson has big-play ability

Wilson entered the NFL out of Michigan as a receiver with explosive big-play potential but a relatively raw route-running skill set. Much of his production in college came from his elite acceleration off the line of scrimmage. He thrived from the slot, creating explosive gains on crossing routes. While those same concepts can translate to the NFL, Wilson quickly learned that professional defensive backs can match his athleticism far better than college defenders. That's one reason he has worked with route-running specialists, including Route God, to refine his technique.

Wilson flashed his playmaking ability in limited opportunities last season. However, for a variety of reasons, his playing time diminished as the season progressed. Now, with a fresh start under McCarthy, Wilson appears to be a much better fit in the team's more vertical, next-generation West Coast offense. He has already impressed both Rodgers and McCarthy during the offseason, but now he must turn that early momentum into consistent production.

Wilson must capitalize on his momentum

Last offseason, Rodgers also spoke positively about Wilson, but much of his praise centered on Wilson's physical tools while emphasizing the importance of mastering the finer details of the position. Wilson ultimately endured an underwhelming second season, and the coaching staff reduced his role significantly by the end of the year.

This year feels different. Wilson has a clear path to a meaningful role in the offense, and Rodgers' praise now comes without any caveats. It appears Wilson took Rodgers' message to heart, refined his game, and is beginning to reap the rewards.

The Steelers want the "Big Plays" pillar of their Steelers Six fundamentals to become a defining strength of the offense this season. Wilson has the speed to play a major role in making that happen. If he can carry his strong training camp into the preseason and regular season, Pittsburgh's offense could be poised to take a significant step forward.