Rico Dowdle is a few years into his NFL career, but he says training camp still carries the same urgency it did when he first entered the league as an undrafted rookie.
That mindset is part of what has carried him from Dallas to Carolina and now to the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he is trying to establish a role in an offense that could feature him alongside Jaylen Warren.
Dowdle still plays with an undrafted edge
Dowdle said that for players who enter the NFL without anything guaranteed, camp never really stops feeling important. He described it as the time when a player is fighting for a roster spot and trying to prove he belongs, especially early in a career. Even now, he said that same chip on his shoulder remains part of how he approaches the job.
That perspective makes sense considering how Dowdle got here. Six years ago, his work in camp helped convince Mike McCarthy to find him a spot on the Dallas Cowboys roster. Since then, he has gone from depth player to starter-level producer.
Over 3 1/2 healthy seasons in Dallas, Dowdle played 52 games. In 2024, he became the Cowboys' top running back option and rushed for 1,079 yards and two touchdowns on 235 carries.
After McCarthy and the Cowboys parted ways, Dowdle signed as a free agent with Carolina. He then rushed for 1,076 yards and six touchdowns there, showing he could still handle a meaningful workload.
A backfield that could be built around two runners
The Steelers have reason to be intrigued by what Dowdle can add. On Tuesday at Saint Vincent, Pittsburgh worked on goal-to-go drills in which Warren scored and Dowdle caught a touchdown pass, a small snapshot of the versatility the team sees in both backs.
McCarthy has long believed the pairing can work. He said getting Dowdle with Warren excites him because of the flexibility it gives the offense. He also said he does not want to worry about which back is in the game, especially on third down, and that both players can help keep the offense on schedule.
That kind of usage could matter if the Steelers are trying to build a true two-back attack. McCarthy said he wants both backs to touch the ball, especially on first and second down, and believes they can form a dynamic one-two punch. Dowdle agreed that a 1,000-yard tandem is possible if the game plans allow for enough rushing volume.
History suggests it would be unusual, but not impossible. In 1976, Franco Harris rushed for 1,128 yards and Rocky Bleier rushed for 1,036 yards for the Steelers. If Dowdle and Warren can both stay involved and healthy, Pittsburgh could be looking at something similar in a modern version of that workload.
What Dowdle brings to Pittsburgh
Dowdle said he takes pride in being able to stay on the field for all four downs, handling pass protection, running the ball and catching passes out of the backfield. That is the kind of role that can make a back valuable even before the box score fills up.
McCarthy also pointed to Dowdle's toughness and instincts, noting that injuries slowed the early part of his career but that the ability was always there. He even recalled Dowdle's first touch, when he took a kickoff about 60 or 70 yards and showed the kind of player he could become.
Warren, for his part, is clearly open to the addition. He called Dowdle a great addition and said he is definitely a dude.
For Dowdle, though, the bigger point is simpler. He is still in the part of his career where nothing is guaranteed, and he is treating training camp like a chance he cannot afford to waste. In Pittsburgh, that urgency could help shape both his role and the Steelers' rushing attack this season.
