Sep 15, 2016 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – Late last Sunday night, Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown sat watching film of the next night’s opponent, the Washington Redskins.

Next to him was young receiver Eli Rogers, taking it all in.

To Rogers, knowledge equals power. And when you’re a 5-10, 187-pound wide receiver playing in a league where, well, pretty much everyone else on the field is bigger, you can use all the power you can get.

“We were looking for little edges on the defense, where the nickel back was lining up at a certain depth, which would tell what coverage they’re in,” said Rogers. “We were looking at the (defensive backs) to see how they played things to try to gain little edges that was going to help us win and get open.

“I love the film room. I’m a student first and then I’m an athlete.”

You could say Rogers passed his first test with flying colors.

Appearing in his first NFL game after spending his entire rookie season on injured reserve with a foot issue, Rogers caught six passes for 59 yards and a touchdown – off a deflection on a pass intended for teammate Sammie Coates.

It was a solid first effort, but Rogers wasn’t going to call it his A game by any stretch. He and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had a slight miscommunication on a pass that was intercepted earlier in the game and Rogers saw some other things when he watched the game tape upon which he can improve.

“I played well, really good,” Rogers said. “But the details, I have to lock in on them and be better on each play, whether it’s blocking or just the detail in the depth of my routes.”

Offensive coordinator Todd Haley agreed and looks for Rogers to be even better when the Steelers (1-0) host the Cincinnati Bengals (1-0) Sunday in an early-season AFC North showdown.

“By no means was he perfect, but he is the kind of kid that is going to work really hard to try to be perfect. Again, for him, this will be a bigger test. Once you’re on tape and teams see you, you get a little bit of different attention.”

After what he did against the Redskins – all six receptions came in the first half – Rogers can expect a lot more attention from the Bengals. Then again, playing with Brown, opponents can’t focus too much on Pittsburgh’s other receivers.

Even if they do, Rogers has the mental approach to the game that he cannot be covered. And he’s accustomed to being a secondary option on a team. At Northwestern High School in Miami, he played opposite current Oakland Raiders star Amari Cooper. In college at Louisville, DeVante Parker, a No. 1 draft pick of the Dolphins last season, got plenty of attention.

Rogers has already made a career out of demanding attention despite playing with talented teammates.

“I’ve got that dog in me. It’s a Miami thing,” Rogers said. “I definitely have that will to be great, play hard and make plays. I never thought I would not make the team, ever.”

The Steelers liked what they saw of him enough last season that they kept him around, despite his undrafted status. And even early in the process of planning for this season, they felt he could carve out a role.

His teammates love his quiet confidence as well.

“That was a huge game for him his first time out,” said fellow wideout Markus Wheaton, who plans on playing against the Bengals after sitting out last week with a shoulder injury. “And getting his first touchdown in a weird way, but it’s a touchdown nonetheless, so I’m proud of him.

“It’s his confidence. He knows everything. He’s comfortable in the offense. When you’re comfortable in the offense and you know what to do, you play 10 times faster. You can tell he’s comfortable and his talent is showing because of it.”

Odds and end zones

Wheaton practiced for the second consecutive day. … Center Cody Wallace (knee) did not practice Thursday after participating fully Wednesday. Fullback Roosevelt Nix (back) also did not practice. … Linebacker Ryan Shazier (knee) practiced in a limited fashion and looks to be on track to play against the Bengals. … The Steelers are 13-2 in their home openers since Heinz Field opened in 2001. … Brown drew two fines from the NFL coming out of the game against the Redskins. The first was for wearing blue shoes. The second was for his end zone celebration following his second touchdown. That play also drew a 15-yard penalty.