It took Kaden Wetjen one game to put the NFL on notice that he is here to stay

The NFL is officially here, and for multiple former Hawkeyes, it was a chance to get back on the field for the first time before next season.

The Pittsburgh Steelers battled the Green Bay Packers, with nine total former Hawkeyes in uniform, including two recent draft picks. Gennings Dunker (Rd. 3, Pk. 96) and Kaden Wetjen (Rd. 4, Pk. 121) played in their first preseason game, and stole the spotlight. Dunker was solid on the offensive line, and Wetjen's all-around performance was exactly what Steelers' fans wanted to see. In surprising fashion, Wetjen did most of his damage on offense, and he was easily the MVP of the first preseason game.

Wetjen showcased his speed, receiving ability in his first preseason game

We all know Wetjen has speed for days and is extremely hard to tackle in the open field. He was a menace to opposing teams on returns, setting a new Iowa program record with six career return touchdowns and single-handedly altering games. Iowa's lack of a competent passing game hurt his offensive production and limited him to a special teams role, but it took him all of one game to show why he is going to make an impact on offense too.

In his first NFL game, Wetjen tallied a team-high 79 receiving yards and added a receiving touchdown, while also racking up 71 total return yards. His all-around game was on full display, showcased by a 74-yard catch-and-run. Wetjen caught the ball in the middle of the Packers' zone defense and burst down the center of the field, being stopped just short of the goal line. He also later caught a touchdown pass from former Penn State quarterback Drew Allar, finishing a nice first game for Pittsburgh. While it was only one game, Wetjen showcased his speed and elusiveness in the open field, something the Steelers didn't have much of last season.

Wetjen's 79 receiving yards was 40 percent of his total receiving yards with the Hawkeyes (197), which makes it feel like the offense missed a gigantic opportunity to work him in the game plan. He was definitely a special teams ace who changed the game when he touched the ball, but if Iowa had a better passing attack or at least a package for him, they could've harnessed his speed and agility and used it to put even more points on the board.

Even though it was a missed opportunity for Iowa, the Steelers don't seem to be making the same mistake, and if they find a way to unleash Wetjen's full potential, he can quickly become a weapon for Aaron Rodgers and the offense.

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