BALTIMORE — Roman Wilson was the odd man out in the late-season makeover of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ secondary wide receivers corps.
On a day when veteran wideouts Adam Thielen and Marquez Valdes-Scantling were in uniform to make their debut with the team, Wilson was designated as a surprising healthy inactive for Sunday’s game at the Baltimore Ravens.
Coach Mike Tomlin after the game downplayed that Wilson — the Steelers’ third-round pick just 20 months ago — was a scratch for what ended up a 27-22 victory. Tomlin attributed it simply to that Thielen (acquired via a waiver claim last week) and Valdes-Scantling (signed to the practice squad last month) joined the lineup for the first time.
But Wilson has only 12 catches for 166 yards in his career, and he did not have a catch in the past two Steelers games.
The 35-year-old Thielen practiced three days with the Steelers, and he earned the official start in Baltimore. Thielen was targeted once, making a 4-yard reception during a second-quarter scoring drive.
“It’s been a wild week,” Thielen said, “but yeah, I got my love for the game back being out there and being able to play the game that I love.”
In addition to Wilson, rookie receiver Ke’Shawn Williams was a healthy scratch. Veteran Scotty Miller — designated inactive for last week’s loss to the Buffalo Bills — was back in the lineup in Baltimore.
DK Metcalf (three catches, 32 yards) was the only Steelers wide receiver to record a reception against Buffalo. Miller, Thielen and Valdes-Scantling were added into the mix from that game, with Wilson and Williams swapped out since. Williams had appeared in each of the past eight Steelers games.
Valdez-Scantling was targeted once and did not have a catch.
“I’m just getting my feet wet,” he said, “and being able to go out there for the first time was good. Obviously, the stats didn’t show, but I got a few reps and I’m trying to help this team win any way I can.”
Cook comes in
Dylan Cook on Saturday was announced as a practice squad elevation to fill in as the backup “swing” tackle because of an apparently season-ending injury to veteran Calvin Anderson. Sunday, Cook was summoned to play left tackle in the fourth quarter after Andrus Peat needed evaluated for a concussion.
The high-leverage playing time served as Cook’s NFL debut. He intended to keep the jersey for posterity.
“Just happy to get in and help the team to a win,” Cook said.
No Dugger
It had been known since Friday that starting safety Kyle Dugger (hand) and starting defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (knee) would miss Sunday’s game for the Steelers.
Veterans Chuck Clark and Jabrill Peppers filled in for Dugger, and a similar ensemble replaced Harmon.
A week after making his Steelers and NFL season debut, defensive tackle Brodric Martin-Rhodes was a healthy scratch against the Ravens. The Steelers elected to go with Logan Lee instead to backfill in response to the loss of Harmon, who missed a second consecutive game.
Rookie Will Howard was in uniform for the Steelers as the No. 3 “emergency” quarterback.
Scratches for the Ravens included receiver Devontez Walker, guard Ben Cleveland, offensive tackle Joseph Noteboom, defensive tackle Aeneas Peebles and quarterback Cooper Rush — the latter of whom was in uniform as the No. 3 QB.
