Jul 30, 2015 4 min read

LATROBE – There have been some pretty good trios of receivers in the NFL over the years, but having three 1,000-yard receivers on the same team was only done five times.

The Steelers feel they might have a group capable of reaching that plateau, which was last done in 2008 by the Arizona Cardinals.

With All-Pro Antonio Brown and emerging star Martavis Bryant, who had 549 yards on 26 receptions in 10 games as a rookie, it’s easy to see Pittsburgh having two 1,000-yard receivers in 2015.

“We’re asking him to do more, to move around a little bit, play frontside, backside, know things better,” quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said of Bryant at the team’s training camp at Saint Vincent College. “We’re going to count on him in the no-huddle. Last year, when we were calling stuff, he was asking everyone what to do. We feel more comfortable with him knowing what to do so, hopefully, we can translate that into playing faster.”

The wild card might be third-year receiver Markus Wheaton.

After seeing his rookie season derailed by a finger injury that needed a pair of surgeries, Wheaton had a solid second season – his first as a starter – catching 53 passes for 644 yards and two touchdowns.

Reaching that 1,000-yard plateau is a goal for Wheaton, as it is for most receivers. And if he can do that, chances are good Pittsburgh could have three receivers reach that mark.

“The potential is there,” Wheaton said. “It’s possible. But there’s a lot that goes into it.”

It doesn’t hurt that Pittsburgh’s offensive coordinator, Todd Haley, also happened to be the coordinator in Arizona when Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston last accomplished the feat.

With the same guy calling the plays, the possibilities are there.

It’s up to the players, particularly Wheaton and Bryant, to take that next step in their maturation process.

Like Bryant, who added 20 pounds of muscle in the offseason to his 6-4 frame, Wheaton worked hard in the offseason.

“I went to work on everything,” Wheaton said. “I gained a couple of pounds. Obviously, speed is something you’re always working on and feet. You want to be better in all those areas. Hopefully, I will be.”

And with opponents focusing their efforts on containing both Brown – the NFL’s receptions leader in 2014 – and the explosive Bryant, Wheaton could be the key. He figures to see plenty of one-on-one coverage.

“I plan on winning every matchup I have,” Wheaton said. “Obviously, I feel everybody on the team feels that way. I wouldn’t call myself the X-factor, but I definitely feel I can make a difference on this team.”

It also helps Haley knows how to keep all three receivers happy, having had experience doing so in Arizona.

Though Brown and Wheaton are technically the starters, all three receivers will get enough work to be happy.

“We have packages. I don’t even really think about it,” said Wheaton of starting. “We just get on the field and we play.

“The potential is there. That’s definitely something to build on. That’s definitely something we’re all excited about. You talk to coach (Haley), you talk to Ben, even myself, we’re excited about what we have. We’re excited about the potential that we did show last year and the growth that we should show this year.”

The Steelers released linebacker Shawn Lemon, who was on the PUP list with an Achilles’ tendon injury, and signed safety Jordan Sullen. … Cornerback Cortez Allen and safety Mike Mitchell both missed practice Thursday because of injury, but neither is considered serious. … The Steelers will hold their annual night practice tonight at Latrobe Memorial Stadium from 7 to 9 p.m. It is open to the public. Players will be available on the field prior to practice to sign autographs.