The Pittsburgh Steelers have primarily used two running backs on offense over the past four years while rostering three. This creates an obvious dilemma. Though Pittsburgh said goodbye to Kenneth Gainwell in free agency, they added Rico Dowdle on a two-year, $12.25 million deal.
Meanwhile, the Steelers signed special teams standout Travis Homer in free agency while spending a seventh-round pick on Navy running back/receiver Eli Heidenreich. This running backroom already included 2025 third-round pick Kaleb Johnson.
After predicting the odds of each Steelers quarterback making the final 53-man roster, I continue my series with the running back group... and it's possible that two notable names get squeezed out.
Early projected chances of each Pittsburgh Steelers running back making the 53-man roster
Jalen Warren: 100%
Steelers fans were surprised to see Jalen Warren outpaced in snaps by Gainwell in 2025, but that may have been due to the game situation. Warren saw a career high in carries last season (211) while still managing 40 receptions. Warren earned a two-year, $11.9 million contract extension during the 2026 offseason, and he'll work in tandem with Dowdle.
Rico Dowdle: 100%
Dowdle and Warren are different players in terms of the skill sets they bring to the table, but they have nearly identical two-year contracts, so it's hard to predict which player will be used more. After back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons—one of which came with head coach Mike McCarthy in Dallas—it might be hard to keep Dowdle off the field. He's a definite roster lock.
Kaleb Johnson: 65%
This is where things get dicey. A year ago, it would have felt like a guarantee that Kaleb Johnson would be on the roster in his second NFL season. But after a dismal rookie campaign, the big-bodied running back is no longer a roster lock. Johnson struggled with his looks last season, both on offense and special teams, and he'll need to take a massive step forward this summer.
Fighting for the RB3 role, Johnson will have no choice but to prove his worth on special teams, as Warren and Dowdle are already solidified as the top two backs. It's hardly a guarantee he makes the roster, and the Steelers potentially trading Johnson isn't out of the question.
Travis Homer: 48%
Travis Homer has barely toted the rock in his career, and he has just seven carries over his past three seasons. However, Homer has been able to carve out roles throughout his career in Seattle and Chicago thanks to his remarkable special teams performances (think the running back version of Miles Killebrew).
There's a scenario where Homer is kept as a fourth running back, strictly for special teams purposes, but keeping four RBs on the active roster would be out of the norm. Right now, it essentially feels like a coin flip for Homer's roster odds.
Eli Heidenreich: 17%
Eli Heidenreich is an incredible story, and he already has a large group of Steelers fans in his corner. Unfortunately, his path to the roster is daunting. As a running back, Heidenreich will be forced to beat out either Johnson or Homer this summer (and possibly both) to make the 53-man roster.
In reality, Heidenreich's best chance to crack the roster might be proving that he's a jack-of-all-trades who can play running back, receiver, and special teams. Let's give him a fighting 17 percent chance for now to make the team for the 2026 season, but he may need to begin his career on the practice squad.
Max Hurleman: 1%
Max Hurleman was a fun training camp story who had some big moments in the preseason, but the group is too deep ahead of him. Barring a slew of injuries, his best shot is to land on the practice squad.
Lew Nichols: 1%
Like Hurleman, Nichols flashed in the preseason, but the former Central Michigan running back is more than a long shot and isn't even guaranteed to make it through the summer with how deep this Steelers positional group is.
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