The Pittsburgh Steelers received some encouraging injury news ahead of their Week 5 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, as running back Rico Dowdle is making progress toward a potential return. Dowdle has missed the Steelers’ last two games with a toe injury, but he was able to participate in a limited capacity Wednesday, giving him a chance to get back on the field Sunday.
However, Pittsburgh is not ready to declare Dowdle available just yet. Head coach Mike McCarthy said Thursday that Dowdle’s status remains “up in the air,” although the running back will continue working toward a return throughout the week. Fantasy
Dowdle making progress toward a return
Dowdle suffered a dislocated toe in Pittsburgh’s Week 2 loss to the New England Patriots and has been sidelined ever since. He was ruled out for the Steelers’ Week 3 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals and remained unavailable for their Week 4 game against the Cleveland Browns.
That made Wednesday’s limited practice particularly significant. It was Dowdle’s first practice activity in more than two weeks, providing the Steelers with a positive development as they prepare for Indianapolis. The team listed him as a limited participant on its official Week 5 injury report.
Dowdle also indicated that the toe is feeling better and that he is taking his recovery day by day. He acknowledged the frustration of missing games but said the injury is improving compared with when he initially suffered it. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers will likely want to see how Dowdle responds to additional work before making a final decision. His participation level Thursday and Friday could provide a better indication of whether he has a realistic chance of playing against the Colts.
Steelers could reunite Dowdle and Warren
A Dowdle return would also have an impact on Pittsburgh’s backfield rotation. Jaylen Warren has taken on a much larger workload during Dowdle’s absence and has performed well with the additional opportunities.
Warren has recorded 34 carries over the past two games while rushing for 220 yards, along with six receptions for 82 yards. That production has allowed him to establish himself as Pittsburgh’s primary option while Dowdle has been sidelined. NBC Sports
Still, McCarthy has previously made it clear that Warren’s expanded role does not necessarily mean Dowdle will immediately take over the backfield once healthy. The Steelers envision the two running backs forming a “one-two punch” when Dowdle is able to return.
That could give Pittsburgh another dimension offensively heading into the Colts matchup. For now, though, Dowdle’s availability remains uncertain. The fact that he has returned to practice is a positive development, but the Steelers will need to determine whether his toe is healthy enough for him to handle game action Sunday.
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