The Pittsburgh Steelers will feature a lot of new faces on the offensive side of the ball during the 2026 NFL season. One of the biggest offseason additions was rookie wide receiver Germie Bernard. Bernard has been turning heads throughout the preseason, leading to a lot of hype surrounding the youngster. His time to shine might not be as soon as Steelers fans thought it would, though.
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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Germie Bernard (17) during 2026 training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Pittsburgh drafted the Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver with the 47th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Bernard put together two very solid seasons during his time with Alabama, totaling 114 receptions for 1,656 receiving yards and 9 receiving touchdowns.
Since arriving in the Steel City, Bernard has given the organization a lot of confidence that they made the right choice by selecting him. He has gained respect from a lot of teammates through his on-field work ethic and diverse skill set. Bernard broke out in the Steelers' first preseason game against the Green Bay Packers when he made multiple flashy plays, a sign that he may be the next Steelers' great wide receiver.
Even after all of this preseason hype, it seems that Bernard will have to wait to showcase his abilities, at least for the time being. During a recent episode of The Fan Morning Show, Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo dropped some interesting news regarding Bernard's workload ahead of the Steelers' Week 1 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.
"Minimal [workload]. He is still learning the offense and there is still that trust factor with Rodgers that I do not think is completely there yet," Fittipaldo explained. "I am not going to say that Germie is gonna be completely inactive Sunday, I just do not see a big role for him this Sunday."
This comes as a bit of a shock, as Bernard has excelled in many different areas during the preseason. Pittsburgh, while improving the wide receiver room this offseason, still is not extremely deep at the position.
The organization traded for Michael Pittman Jr. in March 2026, but he has missed a lot of preseason and training camp action with an injury. This has led to analysts expecting a slow start from Pittman Jr. in the early portion of the 2026 regular season.
The Steelers are also hopeful for a breakout season from Roman Wilson. Wilson has struggled to stay on the field during his first couple of NFL seasons, but the team has a lot of confidence that this will be his year to establish himself as a focal point of the offense.
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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receivers Kaden Wetjen (10) and Roman Wilson (14) during 2026 training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Behind Pittman Jr. and Wilson falls Bernard. After him, the team employs veteran Ben Skowronek, who has been with the team for multiple seasons now, mainly contributing as an outstanding special teams player. The final wide receiver listed on the depth chart is rookie Kaden Wetjen. Wetjen is listed as the team's punt and kick returner, so it is not likely that he plays many offensive snaps.
Steelers Pass Catchers Will Have to Fight for Targets
The only wide receiver on the roster that has truly established a connection with quarterback Aaron Rodgers is DK Metcalf, who the Steelers traded for before the 2025 NFL season. Metcalf had his struggles in his first season in the Black and Gold, but was easily the most consistent pass catcher for the team. Rodgers has spoken very highly of Metcalf this offseason and it seems that he will be the main target for Rodgers in 2026.
As previously mentioned, Pittman Jr. has missed valuable time this preseason, Wilson is a breakout candidate, and Bernard is still finding his footing in an NFL offense. These factors will make for an interesting competition during the 2026 regular season.
Pittsburgh desperately needs a consistent No. 2 wide receiver behind Metcalf, and each of these players has an equal chance to become that weapon. Bernard will have to fight the hardest, as he is the most inexperienced of the group and it does not seem that he will see many opportunities early on. If Bernard can continue to work hard and gain Rodgers' trust, big things could be in store for the rookie.
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