Steelers' Rico Dowdle: Big volume in win over Saints
Rotowire
Dowdle carried the ball nine times for 41 yards and caught all six of his targets for 45 yards in Sunday's 16-10 win over New Orleans.
The 15 touches were a season high for Dowdle, but he still took a back seat to Jaylen Warren's 21 touches and 137 scrimmage yards in the Steelers' backfield. Dowdle also led the team in receptions on the day, and his own 86 combined yards were a season high. Pittsburgh could stay with its ground-heavy game plan in Week 8 against Cleveland, giving Dowdle some fantasy appeal even in his backup role.
... See More... See Less
Steelers' Rico Dowdle: Available to play in Paris
Rotowire
Dowdle (knee) is active for Sunday's game against the Saints in Paris, Nick Farabaugh of PennLive.com reports.
After missing three straight games due to a dislocated toe, Dowdle made his return to action in last week's overtime win over the Buccaneers, finishing with 40 yards on seven carries and nine yards on three receptions. However, he seemingly emerged from that contest with a new knee issue, which limited his participation in Week 7 prep and resulted in him being listed as questionable heading into Sunday. The Steelers were apparently encouraged enough by how Dowdle looked in pregame warmups to clear him to play against the Saints, and the 28-year-old should be ready to work in his usual complementary role behind lead back Jaylen Warren.
... See More... See Less
Steelers' Rico Dowdle: Questionable for Paris game
Rotowire
Dowdle (knee) was a limited participant in Friday's practice and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Saints in Paris, NFL insider Adam Caplan reports.
A limited participant participant all week, Dowdle seems more likely than not to play. He's no longer listed with the toe injury that kept him out for multiple games, instead dealing with a knee issue. Pittsburgh's inactive list will be released around 8:00 a.m. ET on Sunday.
... See More... See Less
Steelers' Rico Dowdle: Questionable for Week 7
Rotowire
Dowdle (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Saints in Paris, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports.
The Steelers did not practice Friday because of poor weather in Paris, but if they had Dowdle would have been limited with the knee injury -- different than the toe issue he was dealing with previously -- for a third straight day. The Steelers will practice Saturday and could provide an update on Dowdle's status after the session concludes, otherwise his status for Week 7 will be revealed when Pittsburgh releases its inactives 90 minutes before Sunday's 9:30 a.m. ET kickoff.
... See More... See Less
Steelers' Rico Dowdle: Limited by knee Wednesday
Rotowire
Dowdle was listed as a limited participant for Wednesday's practice due to a knee injury, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reports.
Dowdle had missed three consecutive games due to a dislocated toe on his right foot before returning to action for this past Sunday's 26-19 overtime win over the Buccaneers. While playing 21 of the Steelers' 79 offensive snaps, Dowdle finished with seven carries for 40 yards and added three catches for nine yards, but he appears to have emerged from the contest with a new injury. His ability to practice in any capacity to begin Week 7 is generally a good sign, but Dowdle may need to upgrade to full participation by Friday to avoid carrying a designation into Sunday's game against the Saints in Paris.
... See More... See Less
Steelers' Rico Dowdle: Ten touches in return to lineup
Rotowire
Dowdle carried the ball seven times for 40 yards and caught three of four targets for nine yards in Sunday's 26-19 overtime win over the Buccaneers.
Seeing his first action since Week 2 after recovering from a toe issue, Dowdle took a back seat to Jaylen Warren in terms of touches (16 to 10) and scrimmage yards (78 to 49). The volume was still encouraging for Dowdle given how dominant Warren had been during his absence, but the split doesn't help the fantasy value of either RB. Dowdle may need to get into the end zone to make an impact in Week 7 against the Saints in Paris.
... See More... See Less
Steelers' Rico Dowdle: Week 6 return official
Rotowire
Dowdle (toe) is active for Sunday's Week 6 matchup against the Buccaneers.
Dowdle had teed up his active status by finishing Week 6 prep with consecutive full practices. The veteran offseason addition, who missed the last three games due to a toe dislocation, had been working in a true timeshare with Jaylen Warren over the first two games of the season, but the latter's 321 rushing yards, 169 receiving yards and two total touchdowns during Dowdle's absence will keep him in a clear lead-back role while Dowdle serves as a complementary option against a stout Buccaneers run defense.
... See More... See Less
Steelers' Rico Dowdle: In line to play Sunday
Rotowire
Dowdle (toe) is slated to play in Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Dowdle has been sidelined since a Week 2 loss at New England, when he dislocated the same toe on his right foot twice. After logging back-to-back full practices to cap Week 6 prep, he's expected to put an end to a three-game absence and rejoin Jaylen Warren out of the Steelers backfield. Considering how well Warren is running at the moment, Dowdle will slide back into a complementary role instead of split touches like the duo did before the latter was injured.
... See More... See Less
Steelers' Rico Dowdle: Practices in limited fashion
Rotowire
Dowdle (toe) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports.
The Steelers are optimistic that Dowdle will put an end to a three-game absence and suit up Sunday against the Buccaneers, but he may need to upgrade to full practice participation by Friday in order to avoid taking a designation into the weekend. If Dowdle is cleared to play Sunday, he'll be in store for a lesser role than what he had previously handled, as Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy indicated earlier in the week that Jaylen Warren has earned the right to remain in a bell-cow role out of the backfield.
... See More... See Less
Steelers' Rico Dowdle: Inactive again in Week 5
Rotowire
Dowdle (toe) is inactive for Sunday's Week 5 game against the Colts.
The veteran running back will miss a third consecutive game while tending to the toe injury he sustained in a Week 2 loss to the Patriots. Dowdle was able to practice in limited fashion during each session of Week 5 prep, so there appears to be a good chance he manages to gain clearance for a Week 6 road matchup against the Buccaneers next Sunday. Meanwhile, Jaylen Warren, who's logged 23 touches apiece in each of the first two games Dowdle has missed, will continue in a workhorse role out of the Steelers backfield against Indianapolis on Sunday.
... See More... See Less
Steelers' Rico Dowdle: Unlikely to suit up Sunday
Rotowire
Dowdle (toe) is unlikely to play in Sunday's game against the Colts, but the Steelers will make a final decision after pregame warmups, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
While Dowdle was listed as limited during the entirety of Week 5 prep and went into the weekend as questionable to play, he appears destined to miss a third consecutive contest due to a lingering toe injury. If Dowdle is indeed inactive when the Steelers post their list approximately 90 minutes before a 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff, Jaylen Warren again will handle a workhorse role out of the backfield.
... See More... See Less
Steelers' Rico Dowdle: Questionable for Week 5
Rotowire
Dowdle (toe) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Colts, Mike DeFabo reports.
A limited practice participant throughout the week, Dowdle now enters the weekend with a chance to return from a two-game absence. If he's active for Pittsburgh, he won't necessarily jump right back into the 50/50 split that he and Jaylen Warren operated in at the beginning of the year. Warren thrived in Dowdle's absence and isn't on the injury report, so he looks like a solid fantasy start even if Dowdle avoids the inactive list ahead of a 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff this Sunday.
... See More... See Less
Steelers' Rico Dowdle: Remains limited in practice
Rotowire
Dowdle (toe) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
Dowdle practiced for the second day in a row, albeit with a cap on his reps. Earlier Thursday, head coach Mike McCarthy told Nick Farabaugh of PennLive.com that Dowdle's status for Sunday's game against the Colts is still up in the air, though the running back would put himself in good position to play this weekend if he's able to upgrade to full practice participation Friday. If Dowdle ultimately suits up versus the Colts, he'll likely be Option 1B in the backfield behind Jaylen Warren, who has averaged 6.5 yards per carry and 13.7 yards per reception over the past two weeks while Dowdle has been sidelined with a dislocated toe on his right foot.
Dowdle (toe) was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports.
Earlier Wednesday, head coach Mike McCarthy told Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that Dowdle would be part of the rehab group to begin Week 5 prep, but the running back was apparently able to fit in enough work behind the scenes to log his first practice activity since dislocating a toe in the Steelers' Week 2 loss to New England. Given that he's missed the Steelers' past two games, Dowdle may need to upgrade to full practice participation by the end of the week in order to get cleared to play Sunday versus the Colts. If Dowdle is available this weekend, McCarthy has previously indicated that he would likely reclaim his spot in a backfield timeshare with Jaylen Warren, who has thrived while handling an every-down role over the past two games.
... See More... See Less
Steelers' Rico Dowdle: Remains in rehab group Wednesday
Rotowire
Dowdle (toe) remained off to the side with the rehab group at Wednesday's practice, Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Dowdle has missed Pittsburgh's past two games due to a dislocated toe. Starting the week off to the side isn't a good sign for Dowdle's Week 5 availability, but head coach Mike McCarthy did say the running back will do more in practice this week. Jaylen Warren has taken hold of Pittsburgh's backfield and will remain a borderline fantasy RB1 if Dowdle needs to miss another game.
... See More... See Less
Steelers' Rico Dowdle: Progressing, could play Week 5
Rotowire
Head coach Mike McCarthy said that Dowdle (toe) had a positive workout Friday and is "making progress" in his recovery, but the Steelers aren't yet certain if he'll be available to play Week 5 versus the Colts, Nick Farabaugh of PennLive.com reports.
Dowdle's right toe injury has kept him out for the past two games, with his consecutive absences enabling Jaylen Warren to take on a heightened role out of the backfield as Pittsburgh's clear top option. Though Warren has ran efficiently (6.5 yards per carry) on heavy volume (34 totes) while chipping in six receptions for 82 yards over the last two weeks, McCarthy emphasized that Dowdle will likely remain part of a "one-two punch" with Warren once he returns. Before sustaining the injury Week 2, Dowdle had struggled to find open running room, taking his 15 carries for just 37 yards (2.5 average).
... See More... See Less
Steelers' Rico Dowdle: Ruled out for Week 4
Rotowire
The Steelers ruled Dowdle (toe) out for Thursday's game in Cleveland, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Dowdle will miss a second straight game after he was unable to practice in any fashion on a short week. With Dowdle out of the mix again, Jaylen Warren looks primed to handle a workhorse role out of the Pittsburgh backfield, after he logged 56 of 62 snaps and handled 20 touches (17 carries, three receptions) for 176 yards in a 30-27 win over the Bengals last week.
... See More... See Less
Steelers' Rico Dowdle: Remains listed as 'DNP'
Rotowire
Dowdle (toe) was estimated as a non-participant on Tuesday's injury report, Nick Farabaugh of PennLive.com reports.
The Steelers held a walkthrough for the second time in as many days, and as was the case Monday Dowdle was unable to get any work in. He was at least present Tuesday after not being spotted during the media-viewing portion the day before, but he will presumably have to practice in at least some capacity Wednesday in order to have any chance to suit up for Pittsburgh's Week 4 matchup with Cleveland on Thursday.
... See More... See Less
Steelers' Rico Dowdle: Not practicing Friday
Rotowire
Dowdle (toe) was not spotted during the open viewing window of Friday's practice, Ray Fittipaldo reports.
With Dowdle now absent from the open portion of practice after not participating Wednesday or Thursday, he's looking shaky for Sunday's matchup with the Bengals. Jaylen Warren (shoulder) is also banged up, but he seems to be doing better than Dowdle and could thus be tasked with a large workload for Week 3. The Steelers also have Travis Homer on the roster and Lew Nichols on the practice squad as backfield alternatives, though Homer has largely played special teams throughout his NFL career, while Nichols is a 2023 seventh-round pick with one regular-season appearance to his name.
... See More... See Less
Steelers' Rico Dowdle: DNP again Thursday
Rotowire
Dowdle (toe) didn't practice Thursday, Alan Saunders of Steelers Now reports.
Dowdle has been sidelined for Pittsburgh's first two practices leading up to Sunday's Week 3 matchup against the AFC North rival Bengals, though he at least managed to shed his walking boot Thursday. Jaylen Warren (shoulder) was listed as limited both Wednesday and Thursday. If Dowdle's unable to practice Friday, he'll likely sit out Sunday, which could lead to more touches for Warren in a Steelers backfield that started out close to an even split when both running backs were healthy.
