Aaron Rodgers showed up to Steelers training camp and immediately started making noise. Not about contract stuff or retirement again. He’s talking about a wide receiver who barely played last season.
Roman Wilson. That’s the name. The second-year receiver out of Michigan didn’t get much run in 2025. But Rodgers has been watching him in camp and likes what he sees. According to Steelers reporter Mark Kaboly, Rodgers said he expects Wilson to make some splash plays this year. That’s the exact word Rodgers used: splashy.
This matters because Pittsburgh needs someone to take heat off DK Metcalf. They traded for Metcalf last offseason and he delivered. But the Steelers passing game was still inconsistent in the playoffs. They got blown out by Houston. That loss stuck with everyone in the building.
A new coach and a familiar face for Rodgers
Mike McCarthy is the head coach now. He replaced Mike Tomlin after Tomlin stepped down following the 2025 season. McCarthy and Rodgers go way back. They won a Super Bowl together in Green Bay. So the trust is already there.
Rodgers mentioned that being under center and using play action is going to be a big part of the offense this year. That’s a shift from last year’s scheme. And it’s something McCarthy has always leaned on.
Metcalf noticed the difference immediately. He said having an offensive-minded head coach is new for him. In Seattle, he had Pete Carroll who’s a defensive guy. When the defense messes up in practice, Metcalf said, you just move on. But when the offense messes up under McCarthy, they redo the rep. That’s not something Metcalf has experienced before in his career.
What this means for the Steelers season
Pittsburgh won the AFC North in 2025. That’s not nothing. But the playoff loss to Houston exposed some flaws. The offense went quiet. The line got pushed around. And the receivers outside of Metcalf didn’t step up.
Wilson could change that. He has the speed to stretch the field. And Rodgers has a history of making young receivers look good just by getting them the ball in the right spots. If Wilson can be a reliable second option, this Steelers offense looks a lot more dangerous.
Rodgers has said this is his last season. The urgency is real. He’s not here to develop guys for the future. He’s trying to win now. So when he singles out a young player in camp, it’s worth paying attention.
Training camp just started. But the noise around Wilson is already building. And with Rodgers throwing the passes, that noise could get a lot louder.
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