Kaden Wetjen did not need long to make an impression in his first NFL game.
The Pittsburgh Steelers rookie wide receiver and return specialist turned heads during Thursday night’s 28-9 preseason victory over the Green Bay Packers, catching two passes for 79 yards and a touchdown while displaying the explosive speed that made him one of college football’s most dangerous return specialists.
His performance was impressive enough to draw praise from ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit, who appeared
on The Pat McAfee Show and offered a strong endorsement of the former Iowa standout.
“Kaden Wetjen out of Iowa is a freak,” Herbstreit said. “I’m excited to see what the Steelers are gonna be able to do this year.”
Wetjen’s biggest play came on a 74-yard catch-and-run from fellow rookie Drew Allar. Wetjen caught the pass in stride, turned on his speed and raced deep into Green Bay territory, immediately demonstrating that his value to Pittsburgh may extend well beyond special teams.
Allar and Wetjen connected again later in the game, this time on a five-yard touchdown pass.
The performance was particularly notable because Wetjen was selected by the Steelers with the 121st overall pick in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft largely because of his special-teams ability. He was widely viewed as one of the premier return specialists in the draft, but his limited receiving production at Iowa left questions about whether he could become a legitimate offensive contributor.
Those questions became considerably more interesting after his preseason debut.
Wetjen also handled return duties against Green Bay, recording three kickoff returns for 61 yards and two punt returns for 10 yards.
At Iowa, Wetjen established himself as one of the nation’s most dynamic returners. He became the first two-time winner of the Jet Award, earned consensus All-American recognition in 2025 and led the nation in kickoff-return yardage while averaging 26.8 yards per punt return. He also scored touchdowns as a rusher, receiver and on both kickoff and punt returns during his final college season.
That background made Wetjen an intriguing fit for a Steelers team looking to improve its return game. But his ability to contribute offensively could ultimately make the fourth-round investment look even more valuable.
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