RADIO
Rico Dowdle Up in the Air to Return in Week 5
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy said on Thursday that running back Rico Dowdle (toe) will continue to work towards a return in Week 5 against the Indianapolis Colts, according to Nick Farabaugh of Penn Live. McCarthy also said that Dowdle's status is still up in the air for Sunday. A dislocated toe has been the reason why Dowdle has missed each of the team's last two games. He was limited in the first practice of the week on Wednesday, though, so if he can upgrade to a full practice by Friday, Dowdle could have a good shot at returning and sharing backfield work with Jaylen Warren. Dowdle's return would be bad news for Warren's fantasy managers, as McCarthy has said that he plans to return to a platoon in the backfield with both RBs once Dowdle has healed from his toe injury. The 28-year-old Dowdle is now a long shot to record a third straight 1,000-yard season with his third different team in 2026. He had 15 carries for 37 yards (2.5 yards per carry) and caught four passes for 28 yards in his first two games as a Steeler before dislocating a toe. At best, Dowdle will be in the RB3/flex conversation if he returns this weekend against Indy. UPDATE: Dowdle was limited again in Thursday's practice.
Source: Penn Live - Nick Farabaugh
Source: Penn Live - Nick Farabaugh
Rico Dowdle Making Progress From Toe Injury
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle (toe) is making progress after missing the past two games. Head coach Mike McCarthy told Nick Farabaugh on Monday that Dowdle is working his way back, though there still isn't a firm return date. Jaylen Warren has made the most of Dowdle's absence, piling up 302 scrimmage yards over the last two games while getting 17 carries in each. That workload could change once Dowdle is ready. McCarthy said he still expects the two backs to operate as a "one-two punch," pointing toward a shared backfield rather than Warren continuing to handle the same amount of work. Dowdle had 15 carries for 37 yards and four catches for 28 yards before the toe injury. His practice participation this week should give a better idea of when that committee might be back together.
Source: Nick Farabaugh
Source: Nick Farabaugh
Rico Dowdle Has a Pretty Good Chance to Play Next Week
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle (toe) has already been ruled out of his team's Week 4 matchup on Thursday night against the Browns, but his return may not be far away. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Thursday morning that Dowdle is more "day-to-day than anything else," and that he "has a pretty good chance" to return in Week 5, when the Steelers host the Colts at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. Dowdle shared work in the first two weeks of the season with Jaylen Warren, and he'll be back in that timeshare when he returns from his toe injury. Until then, Warren will carry a big workload, giving him a boost in fantasy value.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Jaylen Warren Carries Fringe RB1 Status on Thursday Night Football
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren had a career-best performance in Week 3 and should continue to operate in a workhorse role against the Cleveland Browns in Week 4. With Rico Dowdle (toe) set to miss a second consecutive contest, Warren's competition for snaps will likely remain Travis Homer and Lew Nichols, who combined for two total touches last week. Warren, meanwhile, handled 17 carries and four targets, turning his 21 opportunities into 176 yards. Cleveland looks like a tough matchup for fantasy running backs on paper, but it is surrendering 4.75 yards per rush attempt to the position, the fifth-highest mark in the league. However, the Browns have yet to allow a rushing touchdown through three games. Fantasy managers should view this as a middle-of-the-road matchup but remain confident in Warren as a volume-based top-12 fantasy option.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rico Dowdle Will Miss Second Straight Game
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle (toe) has been ruled out for Thursday night's game against Cleveland, according to Brooke Pryor of ESPN. Dowdle didn't practice at all on the short week and will now miss a second straight game. He has 15 carries for 37 yards and four catches for 28 yards through two appearances this season. Jaylen Warren took over the backfield without Dowdle against Cincinnati and turned in a huge game, rushing for 127 yards while finishing with 176 yards from scrimmage. Warren should again handle most of Pittsburgh's backfield work Thursday night.
Source: Brooke Pryor
Source: Brooke Pryor
Rico Dowdle a Non-Participant Again on Tuesday
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle (toe) was present, but he was not participating in the period of practice open to the media on Tuesday, according to Nick Farabaugh of Penn Live. Dowdle did not play in the Week 3 win over the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday due to a right-toe injury that he suffered in the Week 2 loss to the New England Patriots, which led to Jaylen Warren being used in a workhorse role. Travis Homer and Lew Nichols III combined for just six offensive snaps. Warren handled a season-high 17 rushing attempts for 127 yards and also caught three of his four targets for 49 yards as a receiver. The 27-year-old jump-started the Steelers' offense on the day after they looked very sluggish in the first two weeks of the 2026 season. Dowdle is not trending in the right direction to make his return on a short week on Thursday Night Football against the division-rival Cleveland Browns. If Dowdle is held out for a second straight week, Warren will be a must-start in all traditional fantasy football lineups as the Steelers' workhorse. After back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons the last two years with the Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers, Dowdle is off to a slow start in the Steel City.
Source: Penn Live - Nick Farabaugh
Source: Penn Live - Nick Farabaugh
Jaylen Warren Could Continue to be Workhorse for Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren was one of the most important reasons that the offense was able to get back on track in the Week 3 win over the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, and he served in a workhorse role with Rico Dowdle out with a toe injury. On 20 touches, Warren produced a career-high 176 yards from scrimmage. "He is one of the toughest guys I've ever played with, and I just can't say enough about his energy and the way he runs the football and the way he cares about his teammates," quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. The Athletic's Mike DeFabo suggests that it might be time for Pittsburgh to put more on Warren's plate, even with Dowdle returns to the fold. Warren has displayed the versatility to play on every down and has the toughness to play through pain and the stamina to last deep into games. Through the first two games in 2026, Warren and Dowdle were part of an almost even backfield split. Since entering the NFL, Warren has the ninth-highest yards per carry (4.8) and the ninth-most yards after contact per rush (3.3). On a short week with a Thursday night game against the division-rival Cleveland Browns, Dowdle could be held out for a second straight game, making Warren an absolute must-start fantasy RB.
Source: The Athletic - Mike DeFabo
Source: The Athletic - Mike DeFabo
Rico Dowdle Not Spotted at Steelers Practice on Monday
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle (toe) was not seen during the open portion of his team's practice on Monday, per Mike DeFabo of The Athletic. Dowdle was inactive for Pittsburgh's Week 3 win over the Cincinnati Bengals due to a toe injury. The Steelers have a short week in Week 4 as they prepare to play the Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football, which could increase the likelihood that Dowdle misses a second straight game. Dowdle was off to a slow start to his first season in Pittsburgh before getting injured, recording 65 scrimmage yards on 19 touches across two contests. With Dowdle sidelined against the Bengals, Steelers back Jaylen Warren dominated backfield work and had a monster game, recording 176 scrimmage yards on 20 touches. If Dowdle remains out in Week 4, Warren would likely profile as a must-start running back against Cleveland.
Source: The Athletic - Mike DeFabo
Source: The Athletic - Mike DeFabo
Jaylen Warren is Impressive on the Ground
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren was stellar on the ground during Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Warren had the backfield all to himself with Rico Dowdle (toe) inactive, and he took full advantage of it. Warren carried the ball 17 times for 127 yards, while also hauling in three receptions for another 49 yards. Warren would've blown past his single-game rushing record if his 87-yard run hadn't been called back for holding. His value could take a hit if Dowdle is back in action for Thursday's matchup against the Cleveland Browns. If not, Warren could be in for another big game on the ground.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jaylen Warren Active Against Bengals
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (shoulder) is officially active on Sunday for a Week 3 divisional clash against the Cincinnati Bengals after he was listed as questionable on Friday's final injury report, according to Alan Saunders of PGH Steelers Now. Meanwhile, backfield mate Rico Dowdle (toe) has been ruled out, which means that Warren should have a much bigger role out of Pittsburgh's backfield this weekend. Fantasy managers should be starting Warren for an increase in volume wherever they have him rostered. Rookie running back Eli Heidenreich is a surprise healthy scratch with Dowdle out due to injury. The Steelers signed Travis Homer to their active roster on Saturday, so he is expected to be the primary change-of-pace option for the team behind Warren against Cincy. The 27-year-old Warren has been more efficient than Dowdle through the first two weeks of the season, rushing for 89 yards on 21 carries while adding seven receptions on 10 targets for 61 yards through the air.
Source: PGH Steelers Now - Alan Saunders
Source: PGH Steelers Now - Alan Saunders
Jaylen Warren Expected to Play Against Bengals in Week 3
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (shoulder) is expected to be active for Sunday's Week 3 contest against the Cincinnati Bengals, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Warren had been listed as questionable after logging a limited practice on Friday. The 27-year-old has a chance to take on a substantially larger role Sunday after teammate Rico Dowdle (toe) was ruled out. Warren has handled modest volume this year, but his pass-catching contributions have allowed him to score at least 9.7 fantasy points (PPR) per game despite failing to find the end zone so far. His ceiling is substantially higher with the backfield essentially all to himself, and he's the overall RB16 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 3.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Travis Homer Signs With Steelers' Active Roster
The Pittsburgh Steelers signed running back Travis Homer to their active 53-man roster on Saturday, according to Mike DeFabo of The Athletic. The Steelers are looking for more RB depth going into Sunday's Week 3 divisional clash against the Cincinnati Bengals, with Rico Dowdle (toe) already ruled out and Jaylen Warren (shoulder) listed as questionable. The 28-year-old Homer will serve as the Steelers' RB3 behind rookie Eli Heidenreich with Dowdle out, but he will not have any standalone fantasy football value this weekend. The former sixth-rounder by the Seattle Seahawks in 2019 from Miami appeared in 10 games with the Chicago Bears last year and had just one carry for a loss of two yards. In the Week 2 loss to the New England Patriots, Homer carried the ball twice for 16 yards on just two offensive snaps. The only way that fantasy managers should even consider picking up and starting Homer is if Warren is also ruled out on Sunday, which seems unlikely to happen. Homer has averaged a healthy 5.3 yards per carry on 92 career rushing attempts since debuting for Seattle in 2019.
Source: The Athletic - Mike DeFabo
Source: The Athletic - Mike DeFabo
Jaylen Warren Looks Like Strong Play vs. Bengals
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (shoulder) is questionable for Week 3's game against the Cincinnati Bengals, but if he can suit up, he is in a strong spot with fellow running back Rico Dowdle (toe) already ruled out for the Steelers. Warren was a limited participant in Friday's practice, so that is a good sign for his participation. For the season, Warren has 21 carries for 89 yards, which is good for 4.2 yards per attempt. He also has seven receptions for 61 receiving yards. Warren has always been a good pass-catching back, and he should continue to be involved with Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers' passing game. With Dowdle missing, Warren is in line for a big contest with the potential for a few big catches and more involvement in the rushing attack. The Bengals defense is good, but Warren has a positive matchup heading into Week 3.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Jaylen Warren Questionable With Shoulder Injury
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (shoulder) is questionable for Sunday's game against Cincinnati after being limited for a third straight practice Friday, according to Alan Saunders. Warren has continued working through the shoulder issue all week and remains in line to lead the backfield if he is active. He has 21 carries for 89 yards and seven catches for 61 yards through two games. Rico Dowdle is dealing with a toe injury and has been ruled out, and running backs coach Ramon Chinyoung said Warren would lead the group if Dowdle is unavailable. Warren's shoulder now becomes the main thing to watch heading into Sunday.
Source: Alan Saunders
Source: Alan Saunders
Eli Heidenreich a Worthy Stash Candidate Amid Backfield Injuries
A seventh-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft out of Navy, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Eli Heidenreich has yet to record his first NFL carry. However, the 23-year-old appears to be in line for an expanded role in his team's Week 3 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. Steelers running back Rico Dowdle (toe) has already been ruled out with a toe injury, and veteran back Jaylen Warren (shoulder) is officially questionable with a shoulder issue. If neither of Pittsburgh's top two running backs is available, Heidenreich could take over the majority of the team's backfield work on Sunday. Even if Warren plays, Heidenreich would be the next man up and could take on some secondary touches. Heading into Week 3, fantasy managers may want to consider stashing Heidenreich off the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
