Mason Rudolph Hails Rookies Wilson and Johnson After Impressive Preseason Performances
The NFL preseason is a lot about teams giving opportunities to rookies and other young players who could make a significant impact in the upcoming season. For the Pittsburgh Steelers offense, that’s rookie running back Kaleb Johnson and wide receiver Roman Wilson.
Both showed some signs of quality play in their 2025 preseason debuts on August 9. Then both improved during Week 2 of the NFL preseason.
Steelers veteran quarterback Mason Rudolph had positive things to say about each young playmaker after the 17-14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday.
“He’s an explosive guy. Very quick off the line,” Rudolph said of Wilson. “Great releases and he’s got good hands. He’s locked in to Arthur’s offense right now, our offense. He’s doing a good job digesting all the concepts.”
The quarterback also sees Johnson settling into his role before his first NFL season.
“You saw some streaks, some flashes last week,” Rudolph added on the rookie running back. “Probably a lot of nerves in anyone’s first game. But he ran it well tonight.”
Wilson led the Steelers with 72 receiving yards during Week 2 of the preseason. He caught two of his four targets.
Johnson posted a team-high 50 rushing yards on 11 carries.
Roman Wilson Shines With 42-Yard Catch in Week 2 of NFL Preseason
Wilson delivered one of the biggest highlights for the Steelers in the team’s second preseason game. On the first play of Pittsburgh’s third drive, Rudolph connected with Wilson for a 42-yard gain.
“It was a great catch by Rome. He’s been very dependable over camp,” Rudolph said. “I know it killed him having to sit out all last year with the injury, and he is extremely hungry to get out there to make plays and prove himself. He’s definitely done that.
“He probably would have played the whole game tonight if he could.”
Wilson only played one game as a rookie because of injuries. The receiver even missed the preseason last August due to an ankle sprain he suffered during training camp.
But the Steelers are hopeful Wilson will make a significant impact in 2025. The team drafted the second-year wideout in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
As a senior at Michigan in 2023, Wilson posted 48 catches for 789 receiving yards with 12 touchdowns. He averaged 16.4 yards per catch while helping Michigan win the national championship.
Wilson still doesn’t have a lot of NFL experience. But he appears to be growing more comfortable each week.
“Just trying to be consistent,” Wilson told reporters after Saturday’s game. “Just do what I do and lock in on ball.”
Rookie RB Kaleb Johnson Stresses He Can Excel With Non-Primary Role
Johnson didn’t deliver a huge play like Wilson did Saturday night. But Johnson was a bell-cow, touching the ball 11 times in Pittsburgh’s backfield.
No other Steelers running back had more than three carries.
Johnson was a workhorse back in college at Iowa. He seems to get better the more he touches the ball.
Johnson explained he loves being that bell-cow type of back, but he also told reporters after Week 2 of the preseason that he doesn’t have to get a majority of the carries to be effective.
“I feel like me, Kenny [Gainwell], all the RBs really feel off of each other. So I feel like it’s not going to just be me and Jaylen [Warren],” Johnson said. “It’s going to be all of us. All the RBs out there getting tots, getting the rock and making sure everybody’s healthy and getting a good rotation.
“Everyone can play.”
Running back Lew Nichols had the longest run for the Steelers in Week 2, rushing for a 37-yard gain. Nichols gained 42 yards on just three carries. Trey Sermon scored a touchdown on three attempts.
Jaylen Warren didn’t play Saturday night. Kenneth Gainwell had two rushing yards on two carries.
