LAS VEGAS –Wide receiver Roman Wilson is set to make his NFL debut for the Pittsburgh Steelers for their team’s Week 6 game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.
Wilson is dressed for the first time this season, the team announced as part of its game-day inactive list. Offensive lineman Max Scharping is the lone healthy scratch, while five Steelers players that had been previously ruled out will miss the game with injury.
Wilson, the team’s third-round pick out of Michigan in the 2024 NFL Draft, suffered a high ankle sprain on the first padded practice of training camp at St. Vincent College in July and has been held out ever since. He has been a healthy scratch for the last three weeks, as he attempted to get back into form after missing so much time.
The Steelers have not gotten much production from wide receivers Van Jefferson, Calvin Austin III and Scotty Miller, leading to calls for the team to play Wilson, regardless of how ready for action he’s been.
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This week, the Steelers didn’t have much of a choice, as injuries mean that all but one healthy player will be wearing a helmet against the Raiders. Running back Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle), tight end MyCole Pruitt (knee), outside linebacker Alex Highsmith (groin), outside Nick Herbig (hamstring) and free safety Damontae Kazee (ankle) had all previously been ruled out.
Quarterback Russell Wilson will also be fully active for the first time in his Steelers career. He is set to serve as the backup quarterback after being the emergency third option in the first five weeks. Kyle Allen is the emergency backup this week.
Two other Steelers players are set to make their team debuts in addition to Wilson. Outside linebackers Ade Ogundeji and Eku Leota, who were both called up from the practice squad on Saturday, are set to play. Ogundeji was signed to the active roster, while Leota and veteran running back Jonathan Ward will serve as game-day elevations.
The Raiders will be without running back Zamir White, wide receivers Jakobi Meyers and Dante Adams, linebacker Tommy Eichenberg and tackle Thayer Munford, who will all miss the game due to injury.