Steelers’ Week 1 snap counts show that rookie wide receiver has an uphill climb to crack the starting lineup in Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh Steelers offense struggled mightily against the Atlanta Falcons, leading many to wonder where rookie WR Germie Bernard was. Well, the snap count totals tell a very important story after Sunday.
The Pittsburgh Steelers escaped Week 1 with a victory over the Atlanta Falcons, but the offensive performance left plenty to be desired. The bigger question coming out of the game, though, centers on rookie wide receiver Germie Bernard and his near-invisible role in the Steelers offense. Bernard logged just 3 snaps against the Falcons, a number that raised eyebrows across the fanbase but shouldn’t have surprised anyone who paid attention during training camp and the preseason.
Germie Bernard vs. Roman Wilson Week 1 snap count
Germie Bernard: 3 offensive snaps
Roman Wilson: 37 offensive snaps
The snap count tells the story
Mark Kaboly from The Pat McAfee Show shared the snap count data after the game, and the gap between Bernard and Roman Wilson was stark. Wilson finished with 37 snaps. Bernard had 3. The truth is, this is exactly what we predicted throughout training camp, the preseason, and that dead lull between the preseason and the regular season. Cracking the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starting lineup was always going to be a steep challenge for Bernard, and it all comes back to one man: Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers’ history tells you everything
For one, just look at Rodgers’ history with the Steelers, and before that with the Jets and the Packers. He gravitates toward veteran pass catchers. He wants players who he trusts to be where he expects them to be when the going gets tough. That’s always been the case with Rodgers throughout his career.
On top of that, Rodgers had a very telling quote about Bernard back in training camp. He said things similar to what he said about Roman Wilson last year: this guy has a ceiling, he’s a good player, I like him a lot, but he’s got to learn the playbook inside and out. That right there told you all you needed to know about Bernard’s usage, and not just for Week 1. In my opinion, this is probably the reality for the majority of the season.
Roman Wilson earned his reps
To be fair to Wilson, he was arguably the best or second-best wide receiver on the field for Pittsburgh, and I know that’s not saying much given the overall offensive product. Wilson had what should have been a wide-open touchdown negated by a pass interference call. He also had another big play in the end zone where there was arguably another PI, but still, he could have caught the ball. The ball popped out on what should have been a score. Wilson was getting open. That counts for something.
Where does Germie Bernard fit?
So the question becomes: is there a better role for Bernard than 3 snaps? I believe there is. I wonder if there’s not a role where Bernard is doing a little bit more of what Michael Pittman Jr. is doing. Or maybe the Steelers go spread, take out a tight end, and run four-wide sets. There is a world where Bernard can get on this football field in a meaningful way, but based on these Week 1 snap counts, he certainly has an uphill climb.
The bottom line is that this coaching staff is going to defer to Rodgers’ comfort level, and Rodgers has made it clear through both his words and the game plan that Bernard isn’t there yet. The talent is evident, and the opportunity will come, but patience is the name of the game for a rookie wideout in Aaron Rodgers’ offense.
