BALTIMORE — When the Steelers traded George Pickens this offseason, general manager Omar Khan insisted that the team had enough talent and depth at the position. Part of the reason Khan felt that way was because he expected Roman Wilson to take a big step in Year 2.
Thirteen weeks later, Wilson is inactive for the most important game of the season in Baltimore, as two 6-6 teams clash with the lead in the AFC North on the line. The move makes way for Adam Thielen (who was claimed off waivers this week) and Marquez Valdes-Scantling (who was promoted from the practice squad for the first time as a Steeler).
While the roster decision was necessary, it’s another reminder of how poor player evaluation and roster construction put the Steelers in their current situation. It comes just one week after Darius Slay, who the Steelers believed could help lock down anyone in man coverage, was inactive and then waived.
Last season, the Steelers’ receiver depth chart featured Pickens at the top — a huge gap — and then everyone else. The Steelers shuffled some pieces at the top by acquiring Metcalf and dealing Pickens, but it still looked like they had one legitimate WR1 and then a bunch of uncertainty.
“I know people make comparison to last year, but it’s not even close to being the same,” Khan said in May. “We made the investment in DK. We’ve had another year with some of the young guys, gotten to know them, watch them develop. We added Robert Woods. Roman [Wilson’s] healthy. Seeing him the last couple of weeks out here and how he’s doing. We saw how he was progressing at the end of last year. Obviously, he didn’t have a chance to get on the field, but there was some excitement there. We have a good group.”
Woods didn’t even make the team. Wilson, who has 12 receptions for 166 yards, hasn’t taken a significant step forward. And Calvin Austin III has only 17 receptions for 180 yards, one year after he posted 36 catches for 548.
As quarterback Aaron Rodgers has criticized this group for failing to create enough separation, the Steelers have made some moves recently to reshape the position. While the changes make a difference or will it be too little, too late?
The Steelers’ other inactive players are: QB Will Howard (3rd QB), S Kyle Dugger, OL Calvin Anderson, DT Brodric Martin-Rhodes, WR Ke’Shawn Williams and DT Derrick Harmon.