The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t lose too many key pieces in free agency this year, but Kenneth Gainwell will be missed. He was the team’s MVP last year after coming in on a one-year deal and making a lot of plays. However, the Steelers didn’t do too bad of a job replacing him, signing Rico Dowdle. He’s coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with two different teams. He should add a nice punch to the Steelers’ offense, and Jaylen Warren is excited to get to work with him.
“Rico. I love the way he runs,” Warren said Friday on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football. “I saw a game and I was like, I love the way this dude plays, and I have him by my side. That’s a great addition. Two undrafted [players], I can’t wait to rock with that.”
While it might have been normal for Warren to feel threatened by Dowdle signing with the Steelers, the two had started building a relationship before becoming teammates. They’re bonded by their status as undrafted running backs. Both of them were longshots to succeed in the NFL, but they’ve beaten the odds. Dowdle even shared that Warren reached out to him last year to show his respect.
It remains to be seen what the division of labor is going to be for the Steelers’ backfield. However, Dowdle has been a lead back before, including in 2024 with Mike McCarthy’s Dallas Cowboys. Therefore, he could receive the bulk of the workload.
That could allow Warren to slip back into the complementary role he had when Najee Harris was in Pittsburgh. He surpassed 200 carries for the first time last year, and while he had a fine season, he might be better suited as a change-of-pace player. Still, he should play a significant role in the Steelers’ offense.
Dowdle and Warren are both physical runners, so they should mesh well together. They’ll help the Steelers wear down opposing defenses. Pittsburgh’s taken pride in that offensive physicality in the past, which should help Dowdle endear himself quickly to fans.
The Steelers still don’t have their quarterback question answered, but they’ve done a lot to improve the rest of their offense. Dowdle, along with Michael Pittman Jr., should give that unit more juice. Losing Gainwell is tough, but Dowdle is a solid weapon who should help the Steelers make plays.
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