While it’s not ideal news for Pittsburgh Steelers rookie receiver Roman Wilson, it seems he avoided a serious ankle injury during Tuesday’s padded practice. Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Wilson is “ok” and considered “week-to-week” after being injured during the team’s Seven Shots period of practice.
Speaking to reporters after practice, Mike Tomlin said it was an ankle injury but did not offer more details.
“Roman hurt his ankle on a tackle and so we’ll have more information regarding the length of his status in terms of how long he might be out,” he told reporters post-practice.
Earlier in the day, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said Wilson was in “considerable pain” and had an X-ray among other tests lined up. Rapoport added additional information to Fowler’s initial report, calling it an ankle sprain. Wilson is expected to be back for Week 1 of the regular season though the missed time could cause him to be “eased in.”
Roman Wilson suffered the injury on a jet run play to the right sideline during Seven Shots, the first team period with the ball placed on the opposing 2-yard line. A “live” session in the team’s first padded practice that allowed full contact and tackling, CB Anthony Averett tackled Wilson short of the goal line, spinning him to the ground. It’s there he injured his ankle, though the exact mechanisms of injury is unclear.
Wilson was later carted off the field. While that sounds like an indication of a serious injury, it’s often a precautionary measure for leg injuries. At Saint Vincent, players can return to the facility by either walking across a football field and up dozens of stairs or they can climb the tall hill behind the fields. Either one isn’t soothing to a lower body injury and a cart is a much more sensible mode of transportation (players often take golf carts up the hill after practice to avoid having to walk it).
While Wilson has avoided a severe injury, it sounds like his odds of returning for camp are questionable. With the third-round draft pick sidelined, there will be more opportunities for WRs Van Jefferson, Calvin Austin III, and Scotty Miller. Pittsburgh continues its search for a No. 2 receiver opposite George Pickens. Jefferson and Austin have gotten the most reps with the 1s but neither have truly separated themselves as a clear-cut starter.
Update: 7:37 p.m.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette insider Gerry Dulac followed this up with a report that Wilson would be out for two weeks. If that is the case, he might be able to participate in one or two preseason games for some much-needed work prior to the regular season.
