Steelers 2026 Training Camp Preview: Running Backs

The Pittsburgh Steelers enter training camp with one of the deepest and most versatile running back rooms they’ve assembled in years. Jaylen Warren returns as the projected starter, veteran Rico Dowdle arrives after breakout campaigns with the Cowboys and Panthers, and 2024 third-round pick Kaleb Johnson gives Pittsburgh another young playmaker with plenty of upside.

How the backfield is deployed will be one of the more intriguing storylines to follow in Latrobe. New head coach Mike McCarthy has long favored utilizing multiple running backs throughout his offenses, and new offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio now inherits a trio of backs with complementary skill sets.

Rather than relying on a true workhorse, the Steelers appear poised to lean on a committee approach, making training camp the first opportunity to see how each runner fits into the offense.

Jaylen Warren

After patiently waiting for his opportunity, Warren enters training camp as the unquestioned leader of Pittsburgh’s backfield. The former undrafted free agent has steadily climbed the depth chart since making the roster in 2022, rewarding the Steelers’ faith with a breakout 2025 campaign in which he rushed for 958 yards and totaled eight touchdowns despite missing time early in the season with a knee injury.

Warren has long been one of the Steelers’ most complete offensive weapons. He’s an explosive runner who consistently creates yards after contact, has developed into a reliable receiver out of the backfield, and remains one of the league’s better pass-protecting running backs. Those traits should make him a natural fit in McCarthy’s offense, where his versatility allows him to stay on the field in virtually any situation.

While Warren enters camp atop the depth chart, the biggest storyline won’t be whether he’s the starter: it’s how the Steelers manage his workload. Pittsburgh has assembled one of its deepest running back rooms in recent years, and keeping Warren fresh throughout a 17-game season will likely be a priority.

What to watch: Even if he doesn’t see the overwhelming volume of a traditional workhorse back, expect the offense to run through No. 30 whenever he’s on the field.

Rico Dowdle

One of Pittsburgh’s more underrated offseason additions, Dowdle arrives after back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons split between the Cowboys and Panthers. After finally breaking through as Dallas’ lead back in 2024, he proved it wasn’t a fluke by following it up with another productive campaign in Carolina, where he finished with 1,076 rushing yards while taking over the starting job during the season.

Dowdle gives the Steelers something they haven’t had in recent years: another proven starting-caliber running back.

His downhill running style, vision, and ability to contribute as both a receiver and pass protector make him an ideal complement to Jaylen Warren. Rather than serving as a traditional backup, Dowdle should have a meaningful role in Pittsburgh’s offense from the start.

The biggest question entering training camp is exactly how the Steelers divide touches between Warren and Dowdle. Pittsburgh didn’t hand Dowdle a two-year contract to watch from the sideline, and his recent production suggests he’s capable of handling a significant workload if called upon.

What to watch: Expect the veteran to push for carries throughout camp as the Steelers build what could become one of the NFL’s deepest running back rotations.

Kaleb Johnson

The Steelers selected Johnson in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft believing he could become an important part of their backfield for years to come. After a standout career at Iowa that included Big Ten Running Back of the Year honors and consensus All-American recognition, Johnson arrived in Pittsburgh with a reputation as a patient, physical runner capable of thriving in a downhill rushing attack.

Johnson’s rookie season featured the typical ups and downs. An early special teams mistake briefly landed him on the bench. While his offensive opportunities were limited behind Jaylen Warren and team MVP Kenneth Gainwell, the experience gave him a valuable introduction to the speed and expectations of the NFL.

Now entering his second training camp, Johnson has an opportunity to carve out a larger role. His combination of size, vision, and power offers a different dimension than either Warren or Dowdle, and another year of development should leave him better prepared to contribute.

What to watch: If Johnson continues to earn the coaching staff’s trust in pass protection and on special teams, he could become a regular part of Pittsburgh’s running back rotation as the season unfolds.

Others

The remaining running backs will likely be competing for practice squad opportunities and special teams roles more than offensive snaps. Unless injuries shake up the depth chart, their clearest path to making the roster will come by proving they can contribute in the kicking game. Those players, namely Travis Homer and Eli Heidenreich, will be covered in greater detail as part of our special teams preview.