Mike Tomlin Explains Why Steelers Benched Promising WR

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been back and forth on Roman Wilson all season. If you go into the offseason, he was the talk of the town. Everyone praised his growth and told fans how the team was avoiding adding to the room because of their second-year wideout.

Today, that's different. Wilson is on the outside looking in and his latest benching only proves that the Steelers still don't view him as a promising wide receiver. At least not promising enough to keep him dressed over players like Scotty Miller, who's played a total of 89 snaps this season.

Wilson was made a healthy inactive during the team's Week 14 game against the Baltimore Ravens. Instead of the second-year wideout, the team decided to call up Marquez Valdes-Scantling from the practice squad, and also had Adam Thielen making his team debut.

The move baffled many as it made little sense to make Wilson inactive over a player like Miller. But after the game, head coach Mike Tomlin gave a very straight-forward answer as to why the decision was made.

"Exactly what you said, because of the veteran receivers," Tomlin told reporters.

"I’m appreciative of their efforts," he later added on Thielen and Valdes-Scantling. “I think their experience showed."

Aaron Rodgers also hinted that the maturity level in the wide receiver room was strong during the game.

" I thought the energy was good, not a big believer in coincidences. So, I’ve got to think that just Marquez [Valdes-Scantling] and Adam [Thielen] out there made a difference from a professionalism standpoint," Rodgers said. "Not saying those other guys don’t have professionalism. I love all ofour the guys, but I just think there was an extra level of focus this week."