The Pittsburgh Steelers will be without their WR2 on Sunday when they host the Cleveland Browns at Acrisure Stadium.
Calvin Austin III will not play because of a shoulder injury. Austin was injured during the Steelers' last game, a 24-21 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 29 in Dublin, and remains banged up after the Steelers' bye last week.
In four games this season, Austin has 10 receptions for 139 yards and two touchdowns. He is second in all three categories among the Steelers' wide receivers after DK Metcalf, who has 15 catches for 261 yards and three TDs.
Austin has the second-most targets among all Steelers with 17, five less than Metcalf.
The Steelers are heavily rumored to be looking for wide receiver help on the trade market. However, no deal will happen in time to help the Steelers on Sunday.
"It's not necessarily about pulling from people that aren't here," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "It's about the elevational roles of guys like Roman Wilson and Scotty Miller, for example. Excited about watching those guys work and maybe get some elevated participation. I think that's one of the beautiful things of the journey that is a season. You're going to get faced with some challenges as a collective. One man's misfortune is another man's opportunity."
Wilson has only one reception for 7 yards this season. Miller has no receptions and only one target.
Fans have been clamoring for Wilson since the Steelers chose him in the third round of the 2024 draft after he helped Michigan win the national championship. He appeared in only one game because of hamstring and ankle injuries and did not have a catch as a rookie.
The Steelers insist they haven't given up on Wilson, so it should be interesting to see how much he plays on Sunday.
"Roman's progressing," Steelers wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni said. "He's doing a good job. Roman's doing just fine. We just happen to be pretty good at tight end and wideout, and what we're doing running the ball. But Roman, he's in the mix, just like all the other guys."