He played college football for the Oregon State Beavers and was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round (79th overall) of the 2013 NFL draft.

[12] During the 2014 offseason, the Steelers lost veteran wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders to the Denver Broncos via free agency.

On September 7, 2014, he started the season opener against the Cleveland Browns and ended the game with a season-high 6 receptions and 97 yards.

In Week 8, Wheaton made 5 catches for 56-yards and caught his first career touchdown in a 51–34 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

The next game, he caught 2 passes for 62 receiving yards and scored a 47-yard touchdown in a win over the Baltimore Ravens.

[13] Wheaton began appearing more in the slot position as Martavis Bryant emerged last season.

[14] Wheaton began the season starting against the New England Patriots and caught 3 passes for 55-yards in a 28–21 loss.

On October 12, 2015, he caught a 72-yard touchdown pass from Michael Vick in a 24–20 victory at the San Diego Chargers.

[15] On December 20, 2015, he continued to make progress as he made 6 receptions for 62-yards and a touchdown in a 34–27 victory over the Denver Broncos.

[16][17] Wheaton played in three games in the 2016 season with two starts recording four catches for 51 yards and a touchdown before suffering a shoulder injury.