ALYSA RUBIN / STEELERS

Roman Wilson runs through a ball-control drill Tuesday on the South Side.

Roman Wilson's goals heading into his second NFL season seem to be relatively simple. After a year plagued by injuries, he's focused on daily improvement and treating each day and each practice with the same energy he would bring to a game day. 

"Come prepared with questions to ask coaches after practice, just be mentally and physically locked in every single day and give it my all," Wilson said following the first day of organized team activities at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex this morning. "Give it all I got every single day to be better the next day and be ready for whenever my time is."

Wilson would certainly welcome the opportunity to flip the script in 2025. 

One of the Steelers' two third-round picks last year, Wilson was forced to watch nearly every game from the outside looking in rather than be on the field competing during his rookie season. He was limited to just one game played against the Raiders on Oct. 13, missing the entire preseason and the first five games of the regular season due to a sprained ankle suffered during training camp. He was placed on the inactive list following that game against Las Vegas and subsequently landed on the injured reserve list with a season-ending hamstring injury. 

"I don't want to think too much about last year, but I definitely learned a lot and it definitely helped to shape who I am this upcoming season," said Wilson, who registered 48 receptions for 789 yards and 12 touchdowns during his final season at Michigan in 2023. "I just feel like I've taken care of my body to an elite level, I've been more locked in and I feel like myself. I'm ready to come out here and practice hard." 

One player who can relate to what Wilson went through last year is Calvin Austin III. Like Wilson, Austin was forced to miss his entire rookie season in 2022 after sustaining a Lisfranc injury in his left foot during training camp.

"I can definitely relate to him about how tough it is to miss your first year and, I don't want to speak for him, but I also know the passion and drive he has," Austin said, also addressing how difficult it can be for players to battle through the outside noise when coming back from a long-term injury. "As football players, we are humans, so we see a lot of the stuff being said and we block it out. At the end of the day, we play for each other. Roman did such a good job of blocking that noise out, working every day last year, to where this year, I just can't wait for the outside world to see what Roman can do. I don't want to say too much, but it's going to be good to see."

Now that he's healthy and back on the practice field, Wilson will look to carve out a role in a wide receivers room that will now operate without the services of George Pickens, a former 1,000-yard receiver who is now in Dallas. Two-time Pro Bowler DK Metcalf will undoubtedly lead a group that also includes the likes of Wilson, Austin, Robert Woods, Scotty Miller and Ben Skowronek. 

Wilson is aware of the opportunities that are up for grabs. He's not letting that dominate his focus, though, especially as he attempts to come back from an injury-plagued season. 

"Of course, everyone wants to compete, but the only thing I'm focused on is getting better every single day and just being ready for whenever my name is called," Wilson said. "That's all I can worry about."