After lifting the Lombardi Trophy last season, the Philadelphia Eagles lost a ton of talent in the offseason. Teams that are trying to close the gap between themselves and the Eagles have poached several key contributors following the Super Bowl run.
While Philadelphia's losses on the defensive side of the ball understandably received most of the attention, the Eagles lost a few veterans [on the offensive end of the field](https://section215.com/eagles-offseason-acquisition-won-t-make-it-to-week-1-01jvzgzrhbgs) as well. One of those players was running back Kenneth Gainwell.
The former fifth-round pick signed a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers after four seasons with the Eagles. However, Gainwell's path to playing time and production in Pittsburgh is not an easy one.
Former Eagles RB Kenneth Gainwell Has an Uphill Battle With the Steelers
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The Steelers continued to add to their RB room after signing Gainwell, using a third-round pick on standout rookie rusher Kaleb Johnson out of Iowa. Jaylen Warren and Johnson will get the lion's share of touches in the Steelers' backfield, with Gainwell waiting to see some snaps as the RB3. He may get a chance as the kick returner, but Gainwell is certainly facing an uphill battle to start the season.
What complicates matters even more for the former Eagle is the uncertainty in Pittsburgh. Who will be the starting quarterback there remains unclear, as Mason Rudolph is projected to be under center in Week 1. Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are both gone, as well as key playmakers like Najee Harris and George Pickens. Significant offensive changes will be a challenge for offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and head coach Mike Tomlin.
The Eagles revamped their RB rotation this offseason, signing AJ Dillon and Avery Williams as depth options. Saquon Barkley will continue to get all the touches he can handle for a second straight season, with Will Shipley hoping to see an increased role. Whether Gainwell will be better off on his new team than he would have been if he stayed in Philadelphia remains to be seen, but his tenure with the Steelers isn't off to a great start so far.
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