Steelers RB Order Starting to Show Itself

The one constant under new Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy is how different things are. From the way they practice to the way training camp is set up to the outlook on the roster, the Steelers have undergone a sweeping change with McCarthy running the show.

One way that's already stood out is learning how McCarthy sees this Steelers team. Unlike the previous staff, there have already been multiple players receiving expanded roles compared to 2025, while others appear to be on the outside looking in for this year's 53-man roster.

This is best exemplified in the running back depth. Entering camp, the expectation was that Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle would work equally in the number one role. But through the first week of camp, it's clear that Dowdle is the lead back. From top to bottom, the running back room is going to look vastly different when the 2026 regular season begins.

Steelers' RB Depth Chart Solidifying

It's hard to read too much into what McCarthy and his staff are doing just four days into training camp. They’ve mixed and matched across every position, but there have been a few developments that appear to be more than coincidence. The biggest is at running back and Dowdle being at the top of the chart.

In nearly every 7-on-7 or 11-on-11 team drill, Dowdle is the first running back on the field with the first-team offense. That’s been the trend for four straight days of camp, so how long can it be considered an experiment before it’s the way the Steelers are operating?

And don’t just take my word for it, it’s being noticed by other members of the beat. Steelers On SI publisher Noah Strackbein also noted the disparity in snap count favoring Dowdle and Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reporter Chris Adamski made a similar comment via his X account after a recent practice.