It’s Wednesday, which means it’s time for a weekly Steelers links roundup at BTSC. But first, let’s take a look around the AFC North:
- The Ravens continue their collapsing ways (Baltimore Beatdown)
- The Good, The Bad and The Ugly in Bengals’ 17-16 Week 1 Win over Browns (Cincy Jungle)
- Browns duo make PFF’s Week 1 Rookie Team (Dawgs by Nature)
Now, onto some Steelers news and discussion:
5 things: Steelers’ usage of receivers, tight ends comes into focus in season opener
(From TribLive’s Joe Rutter): For someone who received a three-year contract in the days leading up to the opener, Warren was conspicuous by his absence for portions of the game. Warren, at times, seemed to take a back seat to Gainwell while rookie third-rounder Kaleb Johnson primarily contributed as a kickoff returner.
It
was an unusual distribution of snaps considering the Steelers seemed intent on establishing Warren as the top running back with Gainwell serving as a change-of-pace and third-down specialist. Gainwell, however, often was on the field on second down and had the edge in playing time — 30 snaps to Warren’s 25.
While Jaylen Warren did get more touches than Kenneth Gainwell, the latter saw more time on the field despite Warren’s presumed feature role in the team’s running back room.
Will it last? I’d expect Warren and the rookie Kaleb Johnson to get bigger roles in future weeks. But the fact that Tomlin stuck with Gainwell after a fumble is telling. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s Aaron Rodgers’ preferred blocker in pass protection. That’s an easy way to gain a lot of extra snaps on offense.
Honoring Pittsburgh’s finest while helping others
(From Steelers.com’s Teresa Varley): That desire to give back is felt to this day by those at the Catholic Youth Association (CYA), a local organization that Art Rooney Sr., known as ‘The Chief,’ stepped in to help when he saw they were struggling financially back in the 1970s. He wanted to help one of his favorite charities, one that embodied the Catholic faith that was a major part of his life, ensuring that they would be able to continue with their mission.
It was from that passion that the Art Rooney Award Dinner was born, an annual event that benefits the CYA. It’s an event that has embodied what he believed in, and one Art Rooney II and Dan Rooney are also an integral part of.
Another quality feature from Steelers.com discussing a tradition started by Art Rooney Sr. that carries to this day.
Buffalo Bills Snap Up Surprisingly Released Steelers Punter
(From Steelers Now’s Alan Saunders): Former Pittsburgh Steelers punter Cameron Johnston is signing with the Buffalo Bills, according to a report by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
Watching the Steelers’ punter battle this preseason, it was clear that it was made up of two NFL-caliber specialists. Corliss Waitman, of course, won the Steelers job, and it didn’t take long for Cameron Johnston to land elsewhere. Now, he’s the starting punter in Buffalo.
And if you haven’t seen the memes yet, he kind of looks like Sean McDermott. And cue the “Bills Burr” jokes…
Why Roman Wilson Barely Played in Steelers Opener
(From SI’s Jack Markowski): Logging just 10 offensive snaps in the second regular season game of his career, head coach Mike Tomlin offered an explanation as to why Wilson wasn’t utilized in the Steelers‘ victory at MetLife Stadium.
“Lack of possession of the football and an agenda relevant to that day,” Tomlin said. “As I mentioned after the game, I have no intentions of explaining the minutiae of rep distribution week in and week out. We got a really good collective. In some instances, highly specialized skill sets. In some weeks, those skill sets will be highlighted and utilized, and sometimes they will be minimized. It is just a component of winning football games in today’s NFL, and it really does not require a lot of explanation.”
As mentioned above, Wilson played just 10 snaps on Sunday, making him the team’s fourth wide receiver (he had one more snap than Scotty Miller). He had no catches on no targets. After a successful preseason, it was a quiet season opener for the Michigan product.
Should the Steelers play Roman Wilson more?
Mike Tomlin’s answer is coach-speak through and through, but he’s not wrong. The Steelers passing game had no problem putting points on the board on Sunday — I’d say the right wide receivers were on the field. Even Ben Skowronek caught a touchdown!
Wilson may be a second-year player, but his season-ending injury in 2024 has essentially made 2025 his rookie campaign. Like the first-year Steelers on the roster, it’ll take some time for him to acclimate to the NFL, start getting notable snaps, and make an impact. Sure, Wilson wasn’t as impactful as he probably hoped he’d be against the Jets, but it’s still incredibly early in both the season and his career.
Wilson will need to make some noise this year, but it’s far too soon to start worrying about him. And in the meantime, Skowronek had a great game on Sunday; his size and blocking ability make him a strong complement to Calvin Austin III.
What are your thoughts on Roman Wilson’s Week 1? Join the BTSC community and let us know in the comments!
