Aaron Rodgers addressed the media after Pittsburgh Steelers practice and didn’t shy away from explaining why he threw an interception, pointing the finger directly at wide receiver Roman Wilson. With the Steelers preparing to open the 2026 season against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1, the quarterback’s comments raise a familiar concern about the third-year wideout’s route-running consistency.

“Roman [Wilson] made a repeat mistake,” Rodgers said via the Steelers YouTube channel. “That’s a good learning experience. Roman is a great kid. He’s had a fantastic camp. I have confidence in him, but mistakes can happen. This is a great one to happen in practice.”

The truth is, this isn’t an isolated incident, and that’s where the concern starts to build.

Roman Wilson’s route issues keep popping up

The key phrase in Rodgers’ comments is “repeat mistake.” This marks at least the fourth known instance of Wilson undercutting routes or failing to run through the football. Rodgers himself referenced a similar mistake during training camp in Latrobe. Then there were the two bad routes Wilson ran during the preseason Week 2 game that led to interceptions thrown by quarterback Will Howard. Now another one surfaces in practice with the regular season days away.

So that’s four instances we know about, whether from being at practice in Latrobe, watching preseason game film, or listening to Rodgers break it down for reporters. There could be more that haven’t made it to the public eye.

Am I going to overreact to it? No. Wilson consistently carved up the defense during training camp, and by all accounts, he has shown dramatic improvement since his rocky start as a Steeler. Rodgers himself went on to credit Wilson’s growth, saying the receiver looks good and will play a significant role for Pittsburgh this season. Based on everything Rodgers has said, Wilson is likely the team’s No. 3 wide receiver heading into the opener against Atlanta.

View this post on Instagram

A third-year player shouldn’t be making these mistakes

But here’s the thing. Given the way Wilson’s Steelers career started, given the way his preseason went, and given the pattern of undercutting routes and not running all the way through the football, these are mistakes a third-year player should not be making. These aren’t physical limitations. They’re mental lapses, and at this stage of his career, that distinction matters.

Wilson has the talent, and he’s earned Rodgers’ trust — which is not easy to do. But the recurring route-running breakdowns are worth monitoring as Pittsburgh heads into a real game week. When it’s the Falcons on the other side and not a preseason opponent, the margin for error shrinks considerably. Wilson doesn’t need to be written off. He needs to clean it up.