The Pittsburgh Steelers are officially preparing for the 2026 season after they started training camp on Wednesday in Latrobe. The first few practices of training camp aren't always too intense, with the players just wearing helmets and protective shirts. However, there is still a heavy emphasis on attention to detail. With camp finally underway, fans will get to see the key position battles of the offseason unfold. While most of the buzz is about the second-string quarterback, the third wide receiver spot could perhaps end up having the greatest impact on the upcoming campaign. It will be interesting to see who Aaron Rodgers begins to favor.
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Steelers' quarterback Aaron Rodgers throwing a pass during day one of training camp on July 29, 2026.
The battle between Roman Wilson and Germie Bernard will likely go on till the end of training camp. Bernard was a second-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft and has received tons of praise from the media, and even his teammates all offseason. Wilson, on the other hand, has had a bumpy road, appearing in just 13 games in his first two professional seasons. He was even a healthy scratch for five of the last six games in 2025 after being unable to get on the same page as Rodgers.
Even though he hasn't had the start he was looking for to start his career, Wilson is still preparing to give Bernard a major run for his money as the starting slot wide receiver. Bernard, being a second-round pick, though, will likely be given a little more grace as Week 1 approaches. The preseason will be a huge test for both players; will Wilson be able to put everything together and how will Bernard adjusting to the NFL level?
Prior to the first training camp practice, Head Coach Mike McCarthy held a press conference to inform the media about what to expect from camp. He also provided some player updates. McCarthy touched on the ongoing position battle, essentially leaving it up to the players to determine who will get more opportunity moving forward.
"I think it's more competition for opportunity," McCarthy stated. "Their roles are there because both of those guys have shown, in the spring, they can play all three positions, so, you know, that's what I'm looking for, number one. They both attack, you know, the scheme as far as learning it and so forth."
McCarthy emphasized earlier in the offseason that versatility will be key in his offense, and Wilson and Bernard have both already shown him they can line up anywhere and execute. This makes this battle that much harder to settle. The players will have to earn their opportunities in practice and will compete against each other to do so. With Wilson having a good start to training camp and Bernard's sky-high expectations, the Steelers likely can't go wrong with whomever they decide to trot out there.
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Steelers' Roman Wilson runs a route during Organized Team Activities (OTAs) in 2026.
Bernard is certainly the more popular choice among Steeler Nation, given the draft pick used to select him and what has already been seen from Wilson. With that said, Wilson has shown flashes of being a starter in the NFL, as he can run crisp routes, and also has seemingly good hands. He wasn't able to get on the same page as Rodgers in 2025, but 2026 may be different for the former Michigan Wolverine.
Steelers' Decision Doesn't Have Too High Of Stakes
There weren't too many position battles going into training camp for the Steelers, with the roster already being pretty set. So, naturally, the wide receiver three spot was one of the more talked-about ones.
No matter who emerges between Wilson and Bernard, it's unclear how much they will even be involved. McCarthy could adapt his scheme to feature more 12-personnel, which means only two receivers would be on the field. Considering Darnell Washington's extension and Pat Freiermuth's hefty contract, they will both, and should, be used a ton.
Fans will have to see more of how things shake out for Wilson and Bernard, but one thing is for certain: whoever wins isn't guaranteed a big role in the offense. McCarthy has traditionally used three wide receivers, but may alter his thought process in the coming weeks.
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