The Steelers may have to think about life without Rico Dowdle, at least for a little while, after his toe injury in Week 2 against the New England Patriots. Pittsburgh doesn’t have a clear answer yet, but the team does have several names it could turn to if Dowdle can’t go for any stretch of time.
Dowdle’s injury seemed to happen in the second quarter when Aaron Rodgers was strip sacked, and he was carted to the locker room. He did return in the third quarter, but after logging four touches in the second half, he was ruled out for the rest of the game. His long-term outlook remains uncertain, with more expected once the Steelers release their first injury report before the Week 3 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals on September 23.
If Pittsburgh needs a fill-in, one of the first internal options is Nichols. He stood out throughout the summer and has a legitimate argument as the best pure runner in the organization behind Dowdle and Jaylen Warren.
A seventh-round pick by the Green Bay Packers in 2023, Nichols has yet to get a regular-season touch, but he has shown something in the preseason. Over the past two preseasons for the Steelers, he has produced 174 yards and a touchdown on 31 carries, plus 50 receiving yards on eight catches.
His size, vision and power give him appeal, and he also brings enough in the passing game to make him a candidate for a practice squad elevation or even a spot on the 53-man roster if needed.
Homer is another possibility, though he brings a very different profile. He was elevated from the practice squad before the Patriots game and played 10 special teams snaps against New England.
On offense, he chipped in 16 yards on two carries while Dowdle was out. Homer is mostly a special teams piece, but he is an eight-year veteran and has at least shown he can be efficient in a limited role.
He can still be elevated two more times before the Steelers would need to sign him to the 53-man roster or waive him with the option to re-sign him to the practice squad.
There’s also Heidenreich, who already sits on the 53-man roster and therefore has a built-in edge over some of the other names. The seventh-round pick out of Navy has only three offensive touches through two games, but he has been used as a return specialist and special teamer.
Heidenreich is more of a versatile piece than a true runner, with his value tied to his pass-catching ability and flexibility. Still, he flashed in the preseason finale against the Buffalo Bills, rushing for 35 yards and a touchdown on nine carries.
Pittsburgh could also look outside the building. Gibson has been a free agent since being cut in February after tearing his ACL in Week 5 last season with the New England Patriots.
He would bring veteran insurance and special teams value, too, with 56 career kick returns for 1,407 yards and a touchdown. In his last full season, back in 2024, he posted 744 yards from scrimmage for New England, including 538 on the ground and 206 through the air.
He could be a practice squad stash for the Steelers if they want another experienced option in reserve.
Ford is another veteran name worth watching, though the path to adding him is a little different. He signed to the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad on September 16, but Pittsburgh could still sign him to its 53-man roster in a pinch.
Ford signed a one-year deal with the Washington Commanders this offseason before being released with an injury settlement in August. He spent last season with the Cleveland Browns and finished the 2025 campaign on the reserve/injured list with a shoulder injury.
When healthy, though, he has produced. He totaled 176 yards from scrimmage on 50 touches in 13 games last year, and between the 2023 and 2024 campaigns he put up 1,378 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, plus 544 receiving yards and five scores on 81 catches.
The Steelers would need Dowdle on IR or another roster move to make room for Ford, but he fits as another possible answer if Pittsburgh goes that direction.
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