Rico Dowdle doesn’t know exactly what his role will be with the Steelers, but he’s prepared for any role assigned. The veteran running back is replacing Kenneth Gainwell, but the two have rather different skill sets. Indeed, he has more in common with his new teammate Jaylen Warren, a fact not lost on him.
Both Dowdle and Warren are thicker-bodied backs, though Dowdle has the taller frame. “I think we’re pretty similar”, he told reporters during his introductory press conference, via the team’s website. “Those north-and-south vertical guys”. He added that he is excited to work with Warren, whom he sees as an every-down back—like himself. But if they parallel each other in so many ways, how do you divide the workload?
“I haven’t spoken with him about that at all yet, so I really don’t have an answer to that”, Dowdle admitted when asked about his conversations with his new-old head coach, Mike McCarthy, about his role. Dowdle also played under McCarthy with the Cowboys, and credited him with learning how to be a professional. “Me, I’m just here, gonna do whatever I can do to help the team win. Whatever they need me to be”, he insisted.
A former college free agent, Rico Dowdle has spent six years in the NFL, five with the Cowboys. Since missing his second season with a hip injury, he has gained a level of consistency. The past two years, he has recorded 274 and 275 touches, with over 1,300 yards from scrimmage. Each year includes over 1,000 rushing yards, and with two different teams.
Even with over 200 carries each season, Dowdle has also drawn about 50 targets the past two years. Since 2024, he has 78 catches for 546 yards and 4 touchdowns. Those numbers aren’t far off from Jaylen Warren’s, either—so, again, how do you divide the roles?
“I know I definitely can be out there all three downs, and I think Jaylen [Warren] has shown that he can be out there all three downs”, Dowdle said. “I think you’ve got two guys that can play first, second, and third down, and fourth and short if you need to. But I haven’t spoken to them, and I definitely think we’ll be able to complement each other well and play off each other. We’ve got two similar running styles. I think we’ll be good”.
Last season with Kenneth Gainwell, the Steelers spent more time dividing roles at running back. Now with Rico Dowdle as Jaylen Warren’s pair, it’s more of pick-your-poison situation. Warren might have a larger receiving role, but both backs are fully capable of doing anything asked of them.
It’s probably why they have very similar contracts, Dowdle earning slightly more. But he also earned his contract a year later, so just consider it cap inflation. Dowdle does have a little more experience, and he has more mileage, too. But why choose if you don’t have to? The Steelers can ride the hot hand, as their two backs complement each other well enough. And who knows, maybe Kaleb Johnson will claw his way into relevance, as well.
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