When pressed about Bernard’s role, McCarthy offered a cautious reply that underscored the uncertainties of Week 1. He emphasized that the coaching staff will finalize lineups closer to kickoff and that the team will operate as a newly assembled unit, with decisions about personnel groups and schematics to be determined in real time. “We’ll wait until Sunday. I think you can understand that. I’m not here to give you lineups and things like that,” McCarthy said. “We have one opportunity to line up and play as a new team. Both schematically, line up personnel groups and how we’ll do that. We’ll take advantage of this being Week 1.”
The Week 1 matchup pits the Steelers against the Atlanta Falcons at Acrisure Stadium with a 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff on Sunday. Both teams head into the season with new leadership at the helm, adding an extra layer of intrigue to how roles will be allocated as the game unfolds.
Most analysts expect third-year wideout Roman Wilson to contend for the WR3 role, with Wilson likely receiving the first opportunity to prove he can complement Metcalf and Pittman Jr. in the Steelers’ pass-catching corps. Wilson brings two seasons of NFL experience and valuable reps with veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, factors that typically help a player adjust more quickly to the pro game. However, Wilson’s recent stretches have been uneven, which has kept Bernard’s preseason momentum in consideration and kept the door open for the rookie to push for a larger share of targets.
That said, Wilson’s up-and-down recent weeks could allow Bernard to seize an early opportunity. It’s a scenario that has sparked questions from the media about whether Bernard can carve out a role as the third option in Pittsburgh’s receiving corps. Yet McCarthy has signaled that the decision will be driven by performance and in-game dynamics rather than preseason hype or expectations.
In practice, the head coach suggested that game flow and performance will determine snaps. While there may indeed be a plan for who opens the season as the WR3, McCarthy indicated there is no advantage to preemptively naming a starter before Week 1’s kickoff. Until the game is played, both Wilson and Bernard will continue to compete for the role, with each earning opportunities to prove themselves against a Falcons defense that will present its own set of challenges.
The broader matchup adds another layer to the intrigue. Both teams feature first-year head coaches, which can amplify unpredictability as game plans are refined on the fly. The Falcons’ defensive scheme in particular could shape the early distribution of targets, as Pittsburgh’s offense, under McCarthy’s guidance, might look noticeably different this season. In a December bout from the previous year, Wilson did not receive a target, while Bernard was still in college, underscoring how quickly circumstances can change once the regular season unfolds.
As Week 1 approaches, the Steelers’ WR3 question remains unsettled. Wilson and Bernard will both have their chances to distinguish themselves, and the coaching staff will rely on game-specific needs, matchup dynamics, and in-game performance to resolve the role. Opponents will need to account for both players’ skillsets, as either could contribute in the early stages of the season.
Regardless of who starts, this matchup promises to be a meaningful test for Pittsburgh’s receiving corps as they navigate a new year under a reimagined offense. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see which receiver steps forward to complement Metcalf and Pittman Jr., and how McCarthy’s strategic decisions shape the Steelers’ Week 1 game plan.
Key takeaway: Week 1’s WR3 role is still a competition between Bernard and Wilson, with the final decision contingent on performance, chemistry development, and in-game adjustments. The opening game will provide the first real indicator of which rookie or veteran emerges as the trusted third option in the Steelers’ passing attack.
