The Pittsburgh Steelers are getting ready to conclude the 2026 NFL preseason schedule as new head coach Mike McCarthy will get his final look at his team before he has some tough decisions to make. It is also a crucial time for the coaching staff as they will have one more time to evaluate the play of the team ahead of the 2026 regular season.
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PITTSBURGH, PA: New Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy looks at his play sheet at Acrisure Stadium in 2026.
In their second preseason game, a 17-0 loss to the New York Jets, there was tons of underwhelming play on the field. One player however, is still turning heads to become a starter. While the offense for the Black and Gold failed to find the end zone Friday night, all eyes continue to be on rookie wide receiver Germie Bernard. He continues to be a player who gives this offense hope, and team insider Nick Farabaugh was on 93.7 the Fan to discuss last Friday's game, specifically giving his thoughts on the Alabama product. He mentioned that the struggles of wide receiver Roman Wilson are benefitting the case for the rookie to get a starting role in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons.
“Roman Wilson, man, who I thought honestly would be the Week 1 starter, I think he’s absolutely losing ground to Germie Bernard,” Farabaugh said. “There’s no doubt about it. When you looked at who is the more impressive player in the slot during their specific weeks playing in the slot, Week 1 was Germie, Week 2 was Roman Wilson, Bernard looked way better.”
Wilson enters his third NFL season as a former third-round pick that the franchise initially had high hopes for. He appeared in one game in his rookie season in 2024, but did not record any stats. In 2025, he saw limited usage and had just 12 receptions for 166 yards and two touchdowns. Following Farabaugh's comments on Monday, it seems that he is being overtaken by a rookie now.
There's still one more preseason game left this week for the Steelers against the Buffalo Bills, and both Wilson and Bernard will need to have a strong game to solidify their respective spots on the depth chart. However, if it's close, it may simply come down to who McCarthy thinks can be most consistent.
Steelers' Third Wide Receiver Adds To Trend Of Healthy Competition
This recent development just furthers the narrative of the healthy competition going on currently on the Pittsburgh roster. The organization made a lot of external moves this offseason being extremely proactive in free agency once that window opened up across the league. They also improved the wide receiver room by trading for wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., who brings six years of NFL experience to the Steel City.
Bernard really blossomed in his senior season in college while showing the versatility to be a Swiss Army knife type of player. He had his best year receiving, catching 64 passes for 862 yards and seven touchdowns. However, he also was used in the running game and had 18 carries for 101 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. His emergence ahead of his rookie season as an NFL wide receiver continues to show that competition is not something this Black and Gold team in 2026 is shy of having.
Jordan Perez / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie wide receiver Germie Bernard makes a grab during his first training camp at Saint Vincent College in 2026.
He can be an excellent threat underneath for veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and his yards-after-catch ability is promising. His yards per reception mark of 13.5 in the 2025 season (collegiate) is something that really pops out in his numbers as it highlights his ability to be a playmaker once the football in his hands.
While the franchise does not seem ready to give up on Wilson, the window could be closing if he cannot turn a corner in the 2026 season. With this emergence of his rookie teammate, he may now have a bigger chip on his shoulder than ever before.
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