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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.
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Steelers' Rico Dowdle: Unlikely to suit up Sunday
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Steelers' Rico Dowdle: Chance to return against Colts
Rotowire
Head coach mike McCarthy said Thursday that it remains up in the air whether Dowdle (toe) will be available Sunday against the Colts, Nick Farabaugh of PennLive.com reports.
Dowdle was listed as limited at Wednesday's practice after missing the past two games due to a dislocated toe. Jaylen Warren has functioned as Pittsburgh's lead back in Dowdle's absence, but McCarthy has said the team intends to return to a backfield platoon once Dowdle is healthy enough to resume playing. Dowdle's status for Sunday's game has yet to be decided, so how he fares in practice Thursday and Friday will be key to assessing his availability.
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.
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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.
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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).
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.
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.
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Steelers' Rico Dowdle: Spectator for Tuesday's practice
Rotowire
Dowdle (toe) was present for Tuesday's practice but was a non-participant, Nick Farabaugh of PennLive.com reports.
After sitting out Sunday's win over the Bengals due to a right toe injury, Dowdle will go down as a non-participant on the Steelers' first two Week 4 practice report. Unless he's able to fit in some on-field work during Wednesday's session, Dowdle will likely be ruled out ahead of Thursday's game in Cleveland. Dowdle's potential absence for a second straight game would set up Jaylen Warren for another heavy workload out of the backfield, after Warren handled 20 touches in Week 3.
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Steelers' Rico Dowdle: Sits out walk-through session
Rotowire
Dowdle (toe) wasn't present for Monday's walkthrough practice, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Dowdle was unable to practice in any fashion last week before being ruled out ahead of Sunday's 30-27 win over the Bengals. The Steelers will face a quick turnaround for Week 4, when they'll travel to Cleveland for a Thursday night matchup with the Browns. Dowdle's lack of involvement in the team stretch and walkthrough Monday doesn't bode well for his chances of being ready to play three days later.
