The Pittsburgh Steelers will look a lot different in a couple weeks when they take the field for 2026 Training Camp. Following a flurry of offseason moves, there will be many different looks on the field on both offense and defense, as new head coach Mike McCarthy and his staff look to put the puzzle together ahead of the 2026 NFL regular season. One departure from last year came at the wide receiver position when Calvin Austin III signed with the New York Giants in free agency this past March. However, team writer Brian Batko strongly believes they already have a replacement on their roster in a third-year player.
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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson flexes his muscles after a big time play on Sunday night against the Green Bay Packers in 2025.
Batko recently discussed this player and he received some high praise on the latest episode of his show. Batko believes that wide receiver Roman Wilson will now have the chance to be Austin's replacement under McCarthy and a new-look offense. While Wilson has had his injury issues and struggled in his young NFL career thus far, he has a chance to demonstrate what he can bring for the franchise on the field in 2026.
“And then Roman Wilson. I think he just naturally moves into that deep threat role vacated by Calvin Austin III,” Batko explained. “I think now that Austin’s gone, I think Wilson is the one that’s got kind of that straight line speed. Wilson’s got kind of that speed demon club in his bag that some of the other guys don’t.”
While the start to Wilson's NFL career has handed him some adversity, he now has one trait working in his favor to find him playing time, as he looks to put his first two seasons in the rearview mirror. His speed, along with having a more talented group around him (with the additions of Michael Pittman Jr. and Alabama rookie Germie Bernard) should propel him into a better 2026 campaign. While those additions should also benefit DK Metcalf, it is possible he still gets double-teamed in coverage, which could open things up for the third-year wide receiver.
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Pittsburgh Steelers star WRs Michael Pittman Jr. (11) and DK Metcalf (4) during Organized Team Activities (OTAs) in 2026.
The new regime provides several players with the chance to turn over a new leaf and get a fresh start in the Steel City. The offensive-minded McCarthy not only reunites with Aaron Rodgers, but he has more talent at his disposal entering 2026 than the franchise did entering 2025 on offense. While they are better on paper and it needs to translate to the field, the consensus appears to be that Pittsburgh will have a more modern look to its offense in the upcoming season.
Steelers Can Benefit If Wilson Can Find College Form
During Wilson's playing time in college, he was not the kind of player that was putting up star-like numbers. However, he was consistent at the position which can make him a great third wide receiver option if he regains that consistency. In 2023, he had 48 receptions for 789 yards and 12 touchdowns. What really shined in his numbers was his 16.4 yards per reception clip. That kind of production would go a long way in the Steel City this season.
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Former Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Roam Wilson (#1) showboats his way into the end zone after a big play during a collegiate football game.
It is also impressive that the lowest he ever saw that stat came as a freshman in college, when he had 13.6 yards per reception in 2020. He also has the speed playing into his favor that Batko eluded to which is where he really has a great chance to take over as the third wide receiver option. For an offensive-minded coach coming in with hopes to improve the offense overall, this is a chance for Wilson to finally shine.
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