The Pittsburgh Steelers have to be feeling good about the sudden depth they have on offense at positions like quarterback, offensive line, and wide receiver. Unfortunately, there's a problem brewing at third-string running back.
We didn't see Jaylen Warren or Rico Dowdle in the first preseason game, but based on what these two running backs have done over the past few seasons, there's reason to feel good about this tandem. The same can't be said for Pittsburgh's RB3.
In the first preseason game against the Packers, 2025 third-round pick Kaleb Johnson didn't even see the field until late in the third quarter (against scrubs). When he finally entered the game, he carried the ball two times for a mere three yards—showing limited ability to see the hole or break first contact.
Then, when rookie seventh-round pick Eli Heidenreich got his shot, he was equally underwhelming. The Navy standout and local product earned just 21 rushing yards on 9 carries (2.3 yards per carry) while going down on first contact on practically every run. Likewise, veteran newcomer Travis Homer carried the ball four times for just eight yards.
The Pittsburgh Steelers may not even have their RB3 on the roster yet
When we look around the league at some of their running back depth, it's hard not to feel jealous. The Las Vegas Raiders, who played Thursday night, have been getting spectacular performances out of rookie Mike Washington Jr. Meanwhile, the 49ers have a plethora of depth running backs—like Sincere McCormick, Kaelon Black, and Khalil Herbert—who all looked effective in preseason Week 2.
With the Steelers, it's been the opposite. What we thought was going to be a deep position entering training camp turned out to be a position that may not have a worthy candidate to take up a valuable roster spot in the RB3 role. Johnson's stock has plummeted since being drafted last season, and it looks like he could soon be on the way out.
We need to give some credit to journeyman Lew Nichols. After a strong preseason with the Steelers in 2025, Nichols looks like the best option for the RB3 role so far... but the bar is really low.
In his preseason Week 1 performance against the Packers, Nichols rushed for 36 yards on 10 carries while punching in a touchdown. This 3.6 yards per carry average is still considered largely ineffective, but it was better than his peers' numbers last week.
I should also mention that, while Homer is a 'running back' by label, he's not much of a runner. Homer was brought in due to his impressive special teams ability. But even if Homer sticks around, the Steelers could still use a better true third running back.
Perhaps Kaleb Johnson and Eli Heidenreich prove us wrong tonight against the New York Jets in the team's second preseason game. If not, the Pittsburgh Steelers could have a major depth issue brewing at running back, and they may need to look for outside help to fill the RB3 role.
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