Dowdle (toe) spotted in a boot, DNP on Wednesday

Warren got in three limited practices this week and, given Rico Dowdle was already ruled out, feels likely to be active on Sunday. Warren will get a workload boost if he can handle it. Eli Heidenreich, Pittsburgh’s seventh-round pick, is next on the depth chart behind Warren with Dowdle out.

Dowdle didn’t practice at any point this week with a toe injury that was described by Ian Rapoport as a “day-to-day” issue after Week 2. It sounds like he enters Week 4 as very much questionable. 2026 seventh-rounder Eli Heidenreich will likely back up Jaylen Warren on Sunday.

He seems well in line to play and, given Rico Dowdle’s second-straight missed practice, could assume the bulk of the load against the Bengals in Week 3. That sentence would have sounded better before Cincinnati reinforced the interior with Dexter Lawrence this offseason.

Penn Live’s Nick Farabaugh did note that Dowdle has shed his boot. He injured his toe in Week 2’s loss to the Pats but pushed through the issue in the second half. He was spotted in a boot on Wednesday. It looks like Dowdle will miss Week 3, but shedding the boot this quickly is a good sign that he isn’t dealing with a long-term issue. Jaylen Warren would vault into the RB2 ranks if Dowdle is ruled out before kickoff.

Warren got a little banged up in the Steelers’ Week 2 loss to the Patriots, but he’s still the team’s healthiest running back of note. Rico Dowdle was in a boot today after injuring his toe in Week 2. He was listed as a DNP and appears to be on the wrong side of questionable to start the week. Even at less than full strength, Warren would likely handle the bulk of the backfield snaps if Dowdle can’t go.

Dowdle appears to have a good chance of playing in Week 3. He played more snaps than Jaylen Warren in Week 1 and obviously did not while dealing with this injury in Week 2. Ultimately the Steelers offense has been bad enough that neither player profiles as better than a FLEX in Week 3.

Warren was the second back to enter the game behind Rico Dowdle, but he operated as the lead back for much of the day with Dowdle dealing with a toe injury. He averaged just under four yards per carry as his biggest play came on a 26-yard reception. With Aaron Rodgers’ inability to consistently push the ball downfield, Warren is the primary checkdown guy to benefit, seeing four targets in Week 2 after totaling six targets in Week 1. He dominated snaps when Dowdle was out and will rank as a fantasy RB2 should Dowdle miss time. Otherwise, Warren is an RB3 for Week 3 against the Bengals.

Dowdle started the game in the Steelers’ backfield but left with a toe injury in the second quarter. He was carted to the locker room from the medical tent but returned in the second half. Dowdle was clearly hobbled while playing in the second half and he eventually exited again and was officially ruled out. He finishes the day with nine total touches for 44 yards, operating as the lead back in a split with Jaylen Warren. With Dowdle out, Travis Homer saw two carries and is in line for more snaps behind Warren.

Dowdle took a cart from the medical tent to the locker room in the second quarter but returned to the game after halftime. Travis Homer saw a couple carries while Dowdle was out, but the backfield returns to a Dowdle/Jaylen Warren split now.

Dowdle was hurt on an Aaron Rodgers fumble that lost 37 yards in the second quarter. He hobbled to the medical tent and was later carted to the locker room from there. Dowdle is questionable to return with a toe injury in Week 3 against the Patriots.