Steelers' 'pool of candidates' for kick returner includes important offensive players

The Pittsburgh Steelers need to find themselves a new kick returner after the recent release of running back Cordarrelle Patterson.

Patterson handled the majority of kick returns last season, fielding 11 in total. Other players who took kick returns last season were running backs Jaylen Warren and Aaron Shampklin, and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Warren is the only one of those four still with the team in 2025 and head coach Mike Tomlin revealed that he is among the "pool of candidates" for the job, a list that also includes running backs Kenneth Gainwell and Kaleb Johnson and wide receiver Roman Wilson, according to Mike DeFabo of The Athletic.

"Mike Tomlin said he's comfortable with the 'pool of candidates' at (kick returner) following Cordarrelle Patterson's release," DeFabo reported. "He listed Kenny G, Jaylen Warren, Kaleb Johnson and Roman Wilson as some contenders."

Considering how important they are expected to be to the offense, we would rather not see Warren, Johnson or Wilson take the role, and that's especially true for the sophomore wide receiver after an injury-plagued 2024 campaign.

Wilson is also playing at a position where the Steelers need all hands on deck thanks to lackluster options behind DK Metcalf.

At punt returner, wide receiver Calvin Austin is expected to resume his role there after he took 28 returns for 289 yards in 2024 (10.3 yards per return).

But, as is the case with the candidates for kick returner, Austin could have a major role in Pittsburgh's offense this season, so seeing him doing returns isn't ideal.

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