Kaden Wetjen entered the Pittsburgh Steelers’ preseason as one of the more intriguing rookies on the roster, but according to insider Mark Kaboly, the fourth-round pick still has work to do to secure a spot on the 53-man roster.
Kaboly, a correspondent for The Pat McAfee Show, appeared on 93.7 The Fan on Friday and discussed a number of Steelers topics, including Wetjen’s roster outlook. Kaboly described the rookie as “on the bubble” as Pittsburgh continues to evaluate its roster ahead of final cuts.
The assessment is notable considering how impressive Wetjen looked in his preseason debut.
Wetjen exploded onto the scene in Pittsburgh’s 28-9 victory over the Green Bay Packers, catching two passes for 79 yards and a touchdown. His biggest play was a 74-yard reception that showcased the explosive speed that made him one of college football’s premier return specialists.
He also demonstrated his value in the return game, recording 61 yards on three kickoff returns and another 10 yards on two punt returns. Wetjen was drafted 121st overall in the fourth round largely because of that return ability. At Iowa, he averaged 17.7 yards per punt return and scored four touchdowns, while averaging 27.5 yards on kickoff returns with two touchdowns.
But Wetjen’s second preseason outing against the New York Jets was far quieter.
Pittsburgh was shut out 17-0 on Friday night. While the game provided another opportunity for young players fighting for roster spots, Wetjen did not replicate the splash plays that immediately put him on the radar against Green Bay. He averaged just 7.2 yards on four punt returns and lost a fumble in the third quarter. He also didn’t catch a pass.
The Packers game showed exactly why the Steelers drafted him. The Jets game served as a reminder that one explosive preseason performance does not automatically guarantee a roster spot.
With Pittsburgh’s preseason finale against Buffalo still ahead, Wetjen has one more opportunity to strengthen his case before the Steelers make their final roster decisions.
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