Rico Dowdle (toe) still DNP Tuesday

He did practice three consecutive days, even if they were all limited sessions. We’d regard Dowdle as on the optimistic side of questionable to return and cut in to Jaylen Warren’s full-time workload. It’s a good matchup against a Colts line that has, at times, had issues defending the run game. Dowdle will be a hard-to-start FLEX if active with a questionable workload.

Dowdle now has two limited practice sessions under his belt. He remains in the questionable column for the Steelers’ Week 5 game against the Colts, but a return from his multi-week injury is possible. If active, Dowdle would likely be an RB3/FLEX

McCarthy said he expects Dowdle and Jaylen Warren to be a “one-two punch” once Dowdle returns to the field. Warren has totaled 34 rushes over the last two weeks while rushing for 220 scoreless yards, but had a 21-89-0 line during the first two weeks of the season when Dowdle was active. Both backs will likely fall in the RB3/FLEX range if Dowdle suits up for Week 5’s game against the Colts.

Dowdle did not practice this week and was ruled out for Thursday’s game against the Browns. Rapoport called him day-to-day. The mini-bye between today’s game and Pittsburgh’s Week 5 date with Indy at home should be enough rest to get Dowdle back on the field. Jaylen Warren will see almost the entirety of the backfield tonight before returning to committee duties once Dowdle is healthy.

Dowdle did not practice once this week before being ruled out for Thursday’s game against the Browns. The mini-bye ahead of Week 5 may help him get back on the field, but his status for next week’s contest is very much up in the air. Jaylen Warren will see the bulk of the backfield work versus Cleveland. he ran 17 times and caught three passes in Week 3. With an elite workload versus a middling Cleveland defense, Warren is a high-end RB2 this week.

Warren operated as an every-down back in Week 3 against the Bengals, running for 127 yards on 17 carries and catching three passes for 49 yards in a victory. DeFabo suggested Warren had established himself as the team’s clear lead back option against the Bengals with Rico Dowdle (toe) sidelined. “I’ve always had respect for him, playing against him, and then being his teammate now for a little more than a season,” Aaron Rodgers said of Warren. “He is one of the toughest guys I’ve ever played with, and I just can’t say enough about his energy and the way he runs the football and the way he cares about his teammates.” Warren’s pass game involvement spiked in Week 3, as he ran a route on 70 percent of Pittsburgh’s drop backs. Dowdle, meanwhile, did not practice Monday ahead of the Steelers’ Thursday game against the Browns. Warren should remain in all lineups this week.

Dowdle was unable to play in the team’s Week 3 win over the Bengals with the same issue and will likely need to get back on the practice field to have a chance to suit up on Thursday Night Football against the Browns in Week 4. Expect Jaylen Warren to see another game of workhorse usage after a 90 percent snap rate on Sunday, should Dowdle be unable to go. Warren would be a volume-based RB1 in a middling matchup in Dowdle’s absence.

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.

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.

Per Penn Live’s Nick Farabaugh, Dowdle was wearing a boot on his left foot today. He suffered the toe injury in Week 2 and was initially considered day-to-day. Neither the boot nor the DNP is a good sign for his Week 3 availability. Jaylen Warren would see the bulk of the backfield touches if Dowdle misses time.