Running back is among a multitude of Pittsburgh Steelers position battles to watch this summer. Jaylen Warren proved he could produce with more reps last year. Now, he\u2019s joined by Rico Dowdle, who will compete for a starting role of his own.<\/p>\n
Both are physical rushers<\/a> who bring plenty of intensity to their respective games. But their skill sets vary enough that Steelers beat writer Ray Fittipaldo thinks there could be a difference in playing time to start the season.<\/p>\n \u201cJaylen\u2019s earned the right to be this team\u2019s starting running back. But he\u2019s also hands down right now, now that Kenneth Gainwell\u2019s gone, your best receiving running back, and your best pass protector back there. So, by default, he has to play in those critical pass situations,\u201d Fittipaldo said Wednesday on 93.7 The Fan<\/a>. \u201cI actually think it might be a situation where Jaylen Warren stays on the field more. And then maybe you\u2019ll see more Rico Dowdle for a couple of series, give Jaylen a blow, and then he\u2019s your only third-down back. But I don\u2019t think they\u2019re gonna take that away from Jaylen.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s not a great sign when your new head coach brings in an old friend at your position. Dowdle blossomed under Mike McCarthy in 2024. Despite just 96 career carries before that season, McCarthy entrusted him with 235. Dowdle repaid that to the tune of 1,079 yards and five total scores. Dowdle then proved he could repeat that feat, with a nearly identical stat line of 236 carries for 1,076 yards in Carolina last year.<\/p>\n But Jaylen Warren also proved he could produce in an extended role last season. Despite Kenneth Gainwell\u2019s emergence, Warren still ran for well over 900 yards during the first season he got more than 200 carries. It\u2019s a good problem to have, finding enough carries for both, but both Dowdle and Warren have proven themselves as starting running backs.<\/p>\n Dowdle does have some production as a pass catcher, but Warren figures to have a slight edge over him in that regard. He also has better technique as a pass blocker and earned Aaron Rodgers\u2019 trust in that role last year. Plus, if the Steelers are going to get Kaleb Johnson on the field, it will likely be on running downs. Which could leave Dowdle more likely to lose those snaps than Warren.<\/p>\n