Rico Dowdle is back on the field, but the Steelers are not about to let that get in the way of Jaylen Warren’s rise.
Dowdle went from limited to full participation on Thursday, a good sign for his availability after the toe injury that’s cost him three games. Still, Mike McCarthy made the pecking order plain: Warren is the guy leading Pittsburgh’s backfield right now, and Dowdle’s return doesn’t change that.
“Jaylen is our featured player right now. Let's make sure we all recognize that.
He's hot. ... It’s important for us as an offense, coaches and players alike, to continue to…”
That’s the lane Pittsburgh is staying in. Dowdle can re-enter the mix, but not at the expense of the workload Warren has earned. The Steelers don’t need to rip up what’s working just to make room for another healthy back.
Thursday’s October 15 injury report also brought a handful of other notable movements. Keeanu Benton and Jalen Ramsey both returned to limited work after missing Wednesday.
Jamel Dean and DeShon Elliott stayed limited. T.J.
Watt and Cameron Heyward were full participants after rest designations the day before. Roman Wilson and Ben Skowronek were out again, and McCarthy has already said both receivers will miss Sunday’s game at Tampa Bay.
That receiver shortage matters. With Wilson and Skowronek unavailable and Michael Pittman Jr. on injured reserve, Pittsburgh may keep leaning on Warren not just as a runner but as a receiving option too. That makes Dowdle’s return useful without forcing a tidy split of carries.
The best version of this backfield may simply be Warren doing most of the heavy lifting while Dowdle helps spell him. The Steelers can use another back to keep Warren fresh without pulling the ball out of the player who has clearly become their offensive centerpiece.
Dowdle hasn’t played since Atlanta, and his full practice is more about getting him back into the conversation than handing him a defined role. The offensive line is also in better shape than it was in Week 2, which is at least a better setting for a player who finished with 37 yards on 15 carries.
The defense picked up some help, too. Benton’s return to limited work is especially important after Derrick Harmon’s move to injured reserve added stress to the interior front. Heyward’s full practice helps the rotation, but Pittsburgh still needs to be ready if Benton’s ankle keeps him from handling a normal load.
Ramsey’s limited return gives Patrick Graham more flexibility across corner, slot, and safety. Dean’s second straight limited practice is another positive step after he sat out the Colts game.
Elliott is still not eligible to play yet, since he remains on injured reserve and needs a roster activation first. In other words, the practice report points in the right direction, but it doesn’t lock in Sunday’s lineup.
At tight end, offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio talked about using Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, and Robert Tonyan in different packages. That could help Aaron Rodgers and give Pittsburgh a few more ways to work around the shortage while the team considers whether to elevate practice squad receiver Brandon Smith.
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