The made a statement during 53-man roster cutdowns by retaining four quarterbacks: Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, and rookie Drew Allar. While keeping multiple signal-callers signals confidence in young talent development, it forces a direct sacrifice elsewhere, most notably in the running back room.
With only Rico Dowdle and Jaylen Warren carried as true feature backs alongside rookie hybrid option Eli Heidenreich, Pittsburgh enters the season with alarming depth at a physically demanding position. On his podcast, “,” the former
The roster squeeze extends beyond game days, directly impacting weekly practice logistics and player sustainability. Standard practice operations rely on scout-team running backs to absorb contact against the starting defense. Because neither Dowdle nor Warren can take those scout reps without risking injury, the burden falls entirely on lower-tier options and practice squad additions. As Roethlisberger noted, this setup creates an unseen physical strain that can wear down the offense over a 17-game stretch. "And that's tough too, I would imagine, as a running back like, 'Oh, there isn't relief coming. ' Because you also have to understand that neither Rico or Jaylen will get reps against the defense, the practice squad. So that means you have Eli and a practice squad guy getting reps against the practice against the defense. That could take a physical toll on your body too," added Roethlisberger. Carrying four quarterbacks provides developmental insurance, but Pittsburgh's gamble at running back leaves the offense exposed to immediate risk if injuries strike. This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: