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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.
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Steelers' Rico Dowdle: Remains listed as 'DNP'
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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.
Dowdle (toe) has been ruled out for Sunday's gam at Cincinnati, Alan Saunders of Steelers Now reports.
Dowdle missed the fourth quarter of Pittsburgh's Week 2 contest and hasn't practiced since. Jaylen Warren (shoulder) also picked up an injury last week, but he's listed as questionable and seemingly expected to carry the load in Pittsburgh's backfield this week, per Nick Farabaugh of PennLive.com. The Steelers then have a quick turnaround with a Thursday matchup against Cleveland.
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Steelers' Rico Dowdle: Not practicing Friday
Rotowire
Dowdle (toe) was not spotted during the open viewing window of Friday's practice, Ray Fittipaldo reports.
With Dowdle now absent from the open portion of practice after not participating Wednesday or Thursday, he's looking shaky for Sunday's matchup with the Bengals. Jaylen Warren (shoulder) is also banged up, but he seems to be doing better than Dowdle and could thus be tasked with a large workload for Week 3. The Steelers also have Travis Homer on the roster and Lew Nichols on the practice squad as backfield alternatives, though Homer has largely played special teams throughout his NFL career, while Nichols is a 2023 seventh-round pick with one regular-season appearance to his name.
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Steelers' Rico Dowdle: DNP again Thursday
Rotowire
Dowdle (toe) didn't practice Thursday, Alan Saunders of Steelers Now reports.
Dowdle has been sidelined for Pittsburgh's first two practices leading up to Sunday's Week 3 matchup against the AFC North rival Bengals, though he at least managed to shed his walking boot Thursday. Jaylen Warren (shoulder) was listed as limited both Wednesday and Thursday. If Dowdle's unable to practice Friday, he'll likely sit out Sunday, which could lead to more touches for Warren in a Steelers backfield that started out close to an even split when both running backs were healthy.
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Steelers' Rico Dowdle: Remains out of uniform Thursday
Rotowire
Dowdle (toe) was out of his walking boot Thursday but wasn't in uniform at practice, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reports.
Dowdle took a step in the right direction by shedding the boot, but his status for Sunday's game against the Bengals remains murky at best since he has yet to practice this week. Jaylen Warren (shoulder), who was listed as a limited participant Wednesday, was in uniform again Thursday. If Dowdle ultimately sits, Warren would be in line to lead Pittsburgh's backfield, with Eli Heidenreich on hand in a change-of-pace role.
Steelers' Rico Dowdle: No practice to begin Week 3
Rotowire
Dowdle (toe) was a non-participant in Wednesday's practice, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
As expected, Dowdle was a spectator to kick off Week 3 prep, after Mike DeFabo of The Athletic previously noted that the running back was sporting a walking boot on his right foot and didn't take part in the Steelers' team stretch prior to Wednesday's session. Head coach Mike McCarthy has yet to reveal the severity of the toe injury that forced Dowdle out of the Steelers' Week 2 loss to the Patriots, but the 28-year-old will likely need to get back on the practice field in some capacity by Friday to have a chance at suiting up this weekend against the Bengals.
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Steelers' Rico Dowdle: Sitting out practice, sporting walking boot
Rotowire
Dowdle (toe) isn't participating in practice Wednesday and was seen wearing a boot on his right foot, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reports.
Neither of the Steelers' top two backs appear to be practicing Wednesday, as Jaylen Warren was present for the session but didn't take part in the team stretch, per DeFabo. The Steelers' first Week 3 injury report will be released later Wednesday and should provide more clarity about Warren's absence, but at this stage, he still appears to be healthier than Dowdle, who exited in the second half of Sunday's 20-3 loss to the Patriots due to the toe injury. Dowdle will likely need to return to practice in some capacity by Friday to have a realistic shot at playing this weekend against the Bengals.
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Steelers' Rico Dowdle: Viewed as day-to-day
Rotowire
Dowdle is considered day-to-day after undergoing testing on his toe injury Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Dowdle was carted to the locker room during the second half of Sunday's 20-3 loss to the Patriots, but he appears to have avoided a significant injury. If Dowdle ends up sitting out a Week 3 contest against the Jaguars, Jaylen Warren could be in store for a sizable three-down role out of the Pittsburgh backfield. The No. 3 back, rookie Eli Heidenreich, has yet to receive a touch and has mostly been used on special teams through his first two NFL contests.
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Steelers' Rico Dowdle: Done for day with toe injury
Rotowire
Dowdle (toe) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Patriots, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports. He finished with seven carries for 22 yards and two catches for 22 yards on two targets.
After exiting midway through the second quarter due to the toe injury, Dowdle was cleared to return coming out of halftime and picked up four touches (three carries, one catch) over the Steelers' first three possessions of the second half. However, he may have aggravated the injury at some point along the way and will now be shut down for the rest of the day. Jaylen Warren is expected to see the bulk of the snaps and touches out of the backfield for the remainder of the Week 2 contest, with Travis Homer and Eli Heidenreich providing depth behind him.
Steelers' Rico Dowdle: Makes return to Sunday's contest
Rotowire
Dowdle (toe) returned to Sunday's game against the Patriots to begin the second half, Nick Farabaugh of PennLive.com reports.
Dowdle appeared to injure his toe while attempting to recover an Aaron Rodgers fumble midway through the second quarter. The Steelers had listed Dowdle as questionable to return and kept him out for the remainder of the first half, but the running back will attempt to play through the injury for the final two quarters.
