The Pittsburgh Steelers found themselves a diamond in the rough with wide receiver Eli Rogers.
The Steelers found Rogers last year and signed him as undrafted free agent out of Louisville, but he was placed on the team’s injured reserve last August and spent the whole 2015 season on IR. This year, Rogers appeared in his first NFL regular season game, which he even started. In his first game, he recorded six receptions for 59 yards.
He even earned his first NFL touchdown after it bobbled off Sammie Coates’ hands and landed in Rogers’.
Rogers earned the start due to the year-long suspension of Martavis Bryant (drug-related suspension) and the injury to Markus Wheaton. Rogers’ start was even more of surprise to Steelers fans because he earned the start over veteran Darrius Heyward-Bey.
Even with Wheaton’s return from injury, Rogers isn’t a player that the Steelers should sleep on or not use. While Rogers might not have the height of Bryant (Bryant is 6’4 and Rogers is 5’10) or the four years of experience Wheaton has, Rogers still a threat.
On his touchdown play — and even on other receiving plays in the preseason — Rogers showed he can be a dominant red zone threat. He dealt with Josh Norman, a man who calls himself the best cornerback in the NFL, on Monday Night Football, which proves Rogers isn’t afraid of the big names in the league.
This weekend, against the Cincinnati Bengals, Rogers will have a big test. Whether its Dre Kirkpatrick or Adam “Pacman” Jones that tests Rogers at the cornerback position or if its Shawn Williams or George Iloka battling Rogers at safety, he’s going to have to prove he’s up for the challenge.
But, based on his promising performance in his first NFL game, it looks like he can handle any type of pressure that’s thrown his way.
Image credit: Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports
