Behind the Steel Curtain
The Steelers’ final preseason game is just a day away. Soon, the focus will be on the regular season.
In the last week of exhibition games, Read & React will be looking at some of the top storylines from the preseason. Plus, we’ll unveil our 53-man roster predictions — we’ll be reacting to the real thing next week.
The games don’t count yet, and we’re already in overreaction season. What narratives have some weight? Which ones matter as much as preseason scores? Ryland and Ryan tell you if these storylines are overrated, underrated, or right on the money.
RB: What do you mean by WR2? When healthy, I’d expect Calvin Austin III to be Pittsburgh’s second-most productive wide receiver in 2025. But Austin should slide into the slot in 11 personnel, and Wilson has played well enough this preseason to establish himself as the boundary starter opposite D.K. Metcalf in those looks.
But while Wilson has done nothing but impress over the preseason, he’s essentially still a rookie with just five career regular season snaps. As such, it’s way too early to crown him as a starter the Steelers will be content with throughout all of 2025.
Tuesday’s Gabe Davis visit seemed to confirm that, and I’d expect names such as Scotty Miller and Ben Skowronek to rotate into that “WR2” spot at times this season as well.
As of now, Wilson has played well enough to be one of the Steelers’ top three receivers in 2025. As I mentioned in my Sunday takeaways column, Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is doing a good job of using the Michigan product in a role he excelled in during his time in college.
I wouldn’t say I’ve boarded the hype train yet, but I’m excited to see what Wilson brings to the table in his first full season.
RP: In what will be a theme of this segment, the response to this recent narrative might tell us more about the person reacting than about Johnson himself.
If you’re trying to imply that Johnson won’t consistently create explosive plays, then I think you need to understand that speed and playmaking at the running back position isn’t as clear-cut as a 40-yard dash time.
Is Kaleb Johnson the type of running back who hits full speed instantly? No, he isn’t built like a Chris Johnson or Jahmyr Gibbs. He isn’t a size-speed unicorn on the level of Saquon Barkley either.
But that doesn’t mean he is slow.
Successful running backs can come in all shapes and sizes. Jerome Bettis, easily the most beloved Steelers running back of the past 25 years, ran a 4.70 40-yard dash back in his day. Around these parts, saying he wasn’t an explosive playmaker is a good way to get your clock cleaned.
Bigger backs like Johnson aren’t typically built to stop on a dime and then immediately kick back into full speed....
