If Roman Wilson takes to the field for his rookie debut on Sunday, it’ll be something he’s never experienced for more than one reason.
Wilson, a third-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers this past draft, sustained an ankle injury on day five of training camp, delaying his first season as a pro.
The Steelers are taking on the Jim Harbaugh-coached Los Angeles Chargers in their 2024 home opener on Sunday.
Wilson spent four seasons under Harbaugh at Michigan, where he was a member of the 2023 championship-winning roster and logged 1,707 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Harbaugh, a one-time head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, produced three of the five most-productive offensive seasons in school history and led Michigan to back-to-back Big Ten Championships and College Football Playoff appearances.
Whether activated or not, Harbaugh will be on the opposing sideline for the first time in Wilson’s career.
“That hasn’t really crossed my mind, looking over the sideline and seeing my old coach, but maybe on game day, it’s going to hit me differently,” Wilson told Steelers reporters on Thursday. “I think that’s just such a crazy experience, my coach being on the other sideline. I just never thought that’d be a thing.”
Given that Wilson missed significant time during summer practice and the entire preseason, his integration into the offense won’t be easy. But it can’t be fast enough. The Steelers receiving corps has accounted for just 243 yards and one touchdown, Pittsburgh’s only of the season.
#Steelers WR Roman Wilson might play Sunday, if so would face his #Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh pic.twitter.com/y5hgCimp6D
— 93.7 The Fan (@937theFan) September 20, 2024
