Good fortune begins to break Steelers receiver Eli Rogers’ way
PITTSBURGH — Before this spring, good fortunate and Eli Rogers were not words closely associated with each other.
Rogers, who was undrafted out of Louisville and missed his rookie season on injured reserve with a foot injury that went undiagnosed since high school, had been long overdue for a change of luck.
He got some in March when Martavis Bryant was suspended for the season, opening up a spot on the Steelers’ 53-man roster. He got more when Markus Wheaton’s ailing shoulder limited him in practice last week, allowing him a bigger role in the Steelers’ season opener at Washington.
And late in the second quarter of Monday night’s season opener against the Redskins, good fortune, literally, just fell into Rogers’ lap. In the Steelers’ 38-16 Week 1 win at FedEx Field, the rookie wide receiver caught six of seven targets for 59 yards and one most fortuitous touchdown.
Rogers’ TD grab, a 3-yard strike from Ben Roethlisberger with just 29 seconds remaining in the first half, was a textbook case of being in the right place at the right time. The pass intended for Sammie Coates, who had been covered tightly, ricocheted off of him and into the waiting arms of Rogers.
“I just heard it bounce off somebody’s chest or shoulder pads or something,” Rogers said. “I kind of followed it. I saw it in the air and caught it.”
As firsts go, first game, first catch, first touchdown, it was an impressive debut for Rogers, who has been one of the better stories of the summer and could be one of the NFL’s bigger surprises this fall.
Rogers quickly has carved a niche for himself as the Steelers’ slot receiver and Roethlisberger hasn’t been shy to throw his way in any situation, including a third-and-1 in the first quarter which Rogers picked up 20 yards with Redskins cornerback Josh Norman covering him.
“Man, it just shows the confidence (he) has in me, the trust he has in me,” Rogers said. “Man, it’s a blessing.”
The Steelers also are entrusting Rogers with punt return duties. Rogers had just one fair catch but the fact that it wasn’t Antonio Brown calling it is welcome news for the Steelers, who gladly will sit their All-Pro receiver on special teams.
Monday’s debut wasn’t without its flaws for Rogers. He ran a wrong route on the Steelers’ second possession, leading to Roethlisberger’s lone interception. Even on his touchdown grab, Rogers should have drawn two defenders toward him.
“Little plays here, little plays there,” according to Roethlisberger.
That said, the quarterback expects Rogers to be even better with the first game out of the way.
“He works hard,” Roethlisberger said. “He doesn’t make the same mistake twice. He made some mistakes tonight that we’ll correct. I don’t expect him to make those mistakes again.
“He’s a guy that wants to be great. He has a desire to be tough and to work the slot. I like what we see, but he’s got some learning to continue to do.”