Steelers' Eli Heidenreich Draws Kenneth Gainwell Comparison From Insider

Aug 27, 2026; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers running back Eli Heidenreich (29) runs the ball defended by Buffalo Bills linebacker Jimmy Ciarlo (35) and linebacker TJ Parker (99) at New Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

Steelers' Eli Heidenreich Draws Kenneth Gainwell Comparison From Insider

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jobe Morrison | Last updated Sep 2, 2026 10:00 AM ET

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The Pittsburgh Steelers surprised some when the team kept all 10 rookies from its draft class on the initial 53-man roster. There were players who looked more like practice squad candidates, but they managed to show enough to stick on the active roster. Of those surprises, local product Eli Heidenreich caught the attention of many. Some might’ve thought Lew Nichols or Travis Homer has gained that edge, but Heidenreich’s versatility became too much to ignore. Now, one local insider thinks he could be part of a bigger picture in Pittsburgh.

Mike DeFabo of The Athletic joined 93.7 The Fan and discussed Heidenreich’s potential impact. He compared him to one of Aaron Rodgers’ favorite targets in 2025, Kenneth Gainwell. Gainwell, of course, departed in free agency but emerged as the team’s MVP. DeFabo believes Heidenreich’s versatility from his days at Navy could allow the Steelers to use him in a similar way within Rodgers’ offense.

“The real question I have from here is how far is Mike McCarthy willing to open up his playbook to make [Eli Heidenreich] an important piece or a piece of this offense? You know, Aaron Rodgers, as we saw with [Kenneth Gainwell] last year, loves to throw the ball to his running backs out of the backfield, and Eli Heidenreich is a guy that can catch the football. He’s kind of a hybrid type of player.” DeFabo said.

Heidenreich is officially listed as WR/RB on Steelers roster

Once the Steelers released their initial 53-man roster, Heidenreich’s listed position changed from running back to wide receiver/running back. The change itself may not carry much significance, but it could be an indication that Pittsburgh views him as more than a traditional running back.

That designation also reflects what Heidenreich showed at Navy. His ability to line up in different spots and contribute as both a runner and receiver gives Mike McCarthy another versatile piece to work with. If the Steelers want to create similar opportunities for Heidenreich that Gainwell had last season, that versatility could prove valuable.

Heidenreich has a lot of work to do to gain Rodgers’ trust

The idea of replacing Gainwell with Heidenreich sounds almost too easy when considering their potential versatility. However, earning Rodgers’ trust is an entirely different challenge.

Rodgers has shown throughout his career that he wants to know exactly where his teammates will be and what they will do before relying on them heavily. Heidenreich will have to prove he can handle his assignments, understand the offense, and make the right decisions consistently.

That could require extensive work behind the scenes. Like rookie wide receiver Germie Bernard, Heidenreich may have to put in extra time to earn Rodgers’ confidence. If he can do that, however, his versatility could give McCarthy a unique weapon to deploy alongside Rodgers.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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