Every rep counts. For Pittsburgh Steelers wide receivers Roman Wilson, Max Hurleman and Brandon Johnson, they won’t let any chance go to waste. Speaking to reporters Thursday, Wilson said he and two teammates are usually among the last players to leave the practice field.

“I just try to do as much as I can honestly,” Wilson said via the team website when asked about his post-practice routine. “I kind of just feel it out. Try to be one of the last three guys out here. Max and Brandon Johnson are always out here with me and just try to be with them.”

Reporters noticed Wilson stays late to catch extra passes on the JUGs machine. Though the two weren’t teammates, it’s a habit for which Antonio Brown received high praise. During the 2018 training camp, we counted Brown catching over 500 passes afterwards during a four-day span.

The trio of current receivers are far away from the same glory, but they’re displaying the same work ethic. All three need a big summer. Wilson enters his third season with just 12 career catches, a figure lower than his new No. 14 jersey.

A tryout player signed out of rookie minicamp last summer, Hurleman flashed early in the preseason but faded near the finish line. He must prove himself all over again to a new coaching staff.

Johnson is a veteran who once caught four touchdowns in 2023 but has only a lone reception since. He’s bounced on and off Pittsburgh’s roster and signed back last month.

None of them are guaranteed to make the team, though Wilson has the strongest odds.

“Those are the guys who even since last year have been out here every day,” Wilson said. “So just continue to keep doing that.”

The secret is there is no secret. Putting in the work is what creates success. It’s happening behind the scenes, but it’s a routine that head coach Mike McCarthy is noticing and will pay off once the pads come on this summer.