Steelers' Mike Tomlin Admits He's Not Happy With Roman Wilson After Critical Moment

The Pittsburgh Steelers fan base had definitely hoped to see more out of Roman Wilson at this point in his career. Wilson was drafted in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and many pundits believed he could make an immediate impact on a Steelers offense that desperately needed help in the wide receiver room. His rookie season was derailed by injuries that limited his ability to develop chemistry with the quarterbacks and find his rhythm in Arthur Smith’s system. Now in his second season, Wilson has had a slow start getting involved, though in recent weeks he has begun to show flashes of the playmaking potential Pittsburgh saw in him coming out of Michigan.

Late in a critical game against the Indianapolis Colts, Wilson was given another opportunity to make a big play. With the Steelers leading 27–17 and just under four minutes remaining, Aaron Rodgers delivered a quick screen pass to Wilson designed to help the team drain the clock. Instead, Wilson tried to hurdle Colts defensive back Cam Bynum, a risky move that backfired badly. Wilson's teammate Ben Skowronek was even heard yelling right beside Wilson on the field about the costly mistake.

The ball popped out, leading to a costly fumble that gave the Colts new life. Fortunately for Wilson and the Steelers, the defense held strong and preserved a 27–20 victory. The moment served as a glaring reminder of how quickly momentum can shift in the NFL and how costly mental errors can be late in games. Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin did not shy away from addressing the mistake.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday morning, Tomlin was candid about Wilson’s decision making and emphasized the importance of situational awareness and protecting the football. 

"You know, I think it has been a steady improvement in terms of their quality of play," Tomlin said while speaking with the media on Tuesday. "Particularly Roman Wilson of late, other than that boneheaded lack of ball security, late in that football game."

He made it clear that Wilson is still learning what it means to finish games the right way and that mistakes like this must become teaching moments.

Tomlin’s words carried the weight of expectation, as Wilson’s talent is evident, but his continued development will depend on how he responds to moments like these and earns back the full trust of his coach.

"Generally, there has been an uptick in the quality of his play," Tomlin said. "We don’t look like our eligibles as wide receivers, man. We feel really good about our tight end group as eligibles as well. You can’t talk about the passing game without talking about the contributions that we get from that group. We have been very open about that as well."

Steelers' Roman Wilson Starting To Get More Opportunities

Wilson has now caught a pass in four straight games, though he would like to forget the costly reception against the Colts. His best performance came in Week 9 against Green Bay, recording 74 yards and a touchdown. 

Tomlin remains confident Wilson will learn from the mistake and continue earning his trust. Wilson will look to make the most of his next target and erase that mistake. Many Steelers fans remain hopeful in Wilson's development.

What is your current level of confidence that Roman Wilson will turn into a productive wide receiver in Pittsburgh? Let us know in the comments below! Please feel free to share your Steelers takes with me on X @anthonyghalkias and follow me.

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