All signs point to Rico Dowdle missing some time due to his toe injury for the Pittsburgh Steelers. At best, he may be able to suit up and play in a limited capacity, but the two-headed monster at running back is currently neutered.
Assuming Dowdle misses some time, the Steelers will need a capable running back to pair with Jaylen Warren. While that new back won’t have the same time share as Dowdle had, they will have opportunities to spell Warren.
Travis Homer got some looks last week when he was called up from the practice squad, but that seemed out of desperation given his nature as a special teams player. Eli Heidenreich is also on the team, but his opportunities have been few.
Instead, Lew Nichols should be given a shot to prove his worth.
The former seventh-round pick out of Central Michigan has had a quiet start to his career. Heck, he is only notable in die-hard Steelers circles due to his preseason play. If Pittsburgh wants offensive help at running back, though, Nichols should be the one they turn to.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could give Lew Nichols a long look
Nichols is a smaller, more compact runner who hits holes hard and is tough to bring down. His style is similar to that of Warren, who would be playing in front of him.
For those of you who watch the MAC, his name should be familiar. He led the FBS in 2021 with nearly 1,850 rushing yards. Injuries in his final college season and mediocre testing caused Nichols to wait until the seventh round for the Packers to take a shot on him.
He had a short stint there and in Philadelphia before landing with the Steelers, and he has been a preseason darling ever since. Over the past two years, Nichols has racked up 174 yards rushing with an impressive 5.6 yards-per-carry average. He’s also added an additional 72 yards through the air.
While preseason success doesn’t mean you are fit to play during the regular season, it feels like Nichols is deserving of a shot. Given the other names available, he feels like the best pure runner.
Nichols can also contribute on special teams. While not the core participant that Homer is, Nichols worked extensively with those units in camp.
Dowdle is a tough, no-nonsense running back. The Steelers can find something similar in Nichols. Given how successful he has been, this could be his shot to prove that he is worth keeping on the active roster.
After two years of pushing for the roster (only to get stuck on the practice squad), Nichols' time may be now. If Dowdle were to miss this week or the team felt like he needed to be on a limited snap count, it is time for them to turn to Nichols and see if he can provide the offense any spark.
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