Steelers Now
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers second-year wide receiver Roman Wilson has just one catch for seven yards through four games. He has been barely involved in the offense, but that could change if Calvin Austin III (shoulder) can’t go on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.
On Tuesday during his weekly press conference, head coach Mike Tomlin explained why Wilson’s snaps have been limited.
“Or it might just be our selection of personnel group,” Tomlin said about Wilson’s playing time. “We’ve been talking a lot about multiple tight ends, Spencer Anderson reporting as eligible, the utilization of multiple tight end groups.
“His lack of participation might not mean anything relative to his performance or what’s going on at his position. It might just mean how we choose to deploy our personnel groups through the first month of the season. It’s still very early in this process. We got thirteen straight games ahead of us. So, keep watching.”
Austin wasn’t clear on his return timetable when speaking with the media on Monday, but Tomlin said Tuesday during his weekly press conference that he’s not closing their door on him being back this week. If not, Roman Wilson and Scotty Miller will be primed to fill his role.
“It’s not necessarily about pulling from people that aren’t here,” Tomlin said. “It’s about the elevation of roles of guys like Roman Wilson and Scotty Miller, for example. I’m excited about watching those guys work and maybe getting some elevated participation. I think that’s one of the beautiful things of the journey that is the season. You’re gonna get faced with some challenges as a collective. One man’s misfortune is another man’s opportunity.”
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Pittsburgh.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Mike Tomlin Reveals Why Roman Wilson Has Received Limited Snaps
