Rico Dowdle’s lingering foot issue leaves Pittsburgh’s struggling ground game in jeopardy as they prepare to face a dominant Cincinnati defensive front led by Dexter Lawrence.
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ anemic run game was a big reason why the offense mustered only three points in a 20-3 loss to the New England Patriots in Week 2, and they could be without a key running back in Week 3.
Through the first two games, the Steelers have rushed for 149 yards on 44 carries, just 3.4 yards per rush. Much of the problems on offense can be put on the offensive line, but running back Rico Dowdle was carted off the field for a toe injury in the second quarter when he attempted to recover a strip.
He did return to the contest, finishing with 22 yards on seven carries.
Per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Dowdle "checked out relatively OK" after undergoing tests on the toe injury this week. He's day-to-day with the issue before the Steelers' Week 3 contest against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Dowdle signed a two-year, $12.25 million contract with the Steelers in March, reuniting him with head coach Mike McCarthy. The two worked together with the Dallas Cowboys.
Through the first two games, he has had a limited impact, rushing for 37 yards on 15 carries and recording four receptions for 28 yards.
Those weren't the stats the Steelers were hoping for when earlier in the offseason when they thought a two-headed hydra of Dowdle and Jaylen Warren would be the focal point of the team to complement Aaron Rodgers and the passing attack.
The toe injury to Dowdle could limit the running backs’ ability to be a force against the Bengals this weekend.
Cincinnati's run defense, led by defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, has been strong through the first two weeks. The Bengals kept the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to 89 yards on 20 carries in Week 1.
Cincinnati only allowed David Montgomery to rush for 10 yards on six attempts in the Bengals' 20-6 win over the Houston Texans in Week 2. The Texans rushed for a total of 60 yards on 18 carries.
If Dowdle is limited on Sunday, the Steelers will need to rely on their passing attack to score points.
