The Pittsburgh Steelers’ rushing problems took another hit in Week 2, and this time it came with Rico Dowdle headed to the locker room late in the first half because of an apparent lower-body injury.
The injury happened on the chaotic sack-fumble play that ended with Pittsburgh facing a 4th-and-43. It wiped points off the board and also left multiple Patriots hurt on the sequence. The latest word is that Dowdle is questionable with a toe injury, though it does not sound likely that he returns given the position he plays.
If Dowdle can’t come back, Jaylen Warren would be lined up for most of the work, with Travis Homer and Eli Heidenreich rotating in when needed. For a Steelers team trying to get its ground game moving after a rough Week 1, that is hardly the kind of setup anyone wanted.
Pittsburgh’s run game was already stuck in neutral before the injury. Against the Falcons last week, the Steelers managed only 58 yards on 21 carries. Through the first half against New England, they had 50 yards on 14 attempts, which works out to 3.6 yards per carry.
That number is better than the 2.8 yards per attempt they posted in Week 1, but it still falls well short of what an NFL offense needs. Dowdle did not offer much before leaving either. In four carries against the Falcons, he produced just 11 yards, and he added one catch for nine yards.
Even with Dowdle not delivering the impact Pittsburgh probably hoped for after back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with the Cowboys and Panthers, losing him still matters for an offense searching for a spark. He is not a pure speed threat, but he did break off 10 runs of more than 15 yards last season, the kind of chunk plays the Steelers could use right now.
Warren remains the more complete back, in my opinion, and that was especially clear in Week 1. A larger workload and a heavier lean on him as the lead runner might help, but so far the Steelers’ offense has not shown much against New England. The Dowdle injury only adds another layer of concern.
In Other News...
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Steelers Drive Turned Into A Bizarre Mess Fans Need To See
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Even after the recovery, Pittsburgh was left staring at a 4th-and-43, a rare and ugly spot that summed up how badly the possession had gone off the rails. For a team trying to settle into the game and protect its rhythm, the sequence was the kind of chaos that fans replay because it is hard to believe on first watch. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Suddenly Have A Protection Problem Fans Can't Ignore
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Now the focus shifts to how the Steelers respond up front. The team is reportedly weighing changes along the offensive line, with rookies Max Iheanachor and Gennings Dunker among the players who could see more time as the staff searches for better protection. Rodgers is expected to stay in place at quarterback, which only raises the urgency of finding answers before a shaky front turns into a season-long issue. [Read more 🡒]