3% of snaps, with over 85% of snaps in all situations. He ran 17 times for 127 yards and caught three passes for 49 yards. Homer and Nichols took three snaps each as the backups. Given that Warren and Dowdle had been used interchangeably, it’s easy for Pittsburgh to change their usage going forward if they want to. When some teams have a clear early-down back and prominent third-down player, even if one of the backs has a big game, they are unlikely to see a significantly increased role
Steelers Depot·
McCarthy gives little to no injury information beyond the required weekly practice reports. Dowdle will presumably appear on the report, and may even need a week before returning to the lineup. But day-to-day is at least better than week-to-week, for sure. It sounds like he will avoid a trip to IR. Dowdle was the first running back on the field Sunday against the New England Patriots. Jaylen Warren has outgained him 150-65 in scrimmage yards, but the offense has struggled overall, especially on the ground. Dowdle’s injury could create an opportunity for Warren to see an even larger workload. Before the injury, Dowdle played about 50 percent of the team’s total offensive snaps despite nine fewer touches than Warren. It also may create additional opportunities for Travis Homer, who would need to be elevated from the practice squad, or Eli Heidenreich
Unlock full player intel
Go beyond the surface with trusted beat-writer insight on every player.
