2022 Steelers Training Camp Preview: The Running Backs
It’s hard to believe but the Pittsburgh Steelers 2022 Training Camp is right around the corner. As we countdown the days until camp begins, SCU will highlight each position group detailing the players who will be competing for a spot on the Steelers’ final 53-man roster at the end of this Summer.
The Pittsburgh Steelers head into their 2022 training camp at Saint Vincent’s College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania with one position group that’s largely unchanged from last season: the running backs.
After using their first-round pick on Najee Harris last season, Pittsburgh finished this year’s NFL Draft without selecting a single addition to their backfield. However, there are a few new names in the mix who were added as undrafted free agents, but as of this time, no veteran backs were signed.
Here’s how the running back group plays out on paper.
Najee Harris
Last year’s top draft pick, Harris became the bell cow that everyone had envisioned.
He carried the ball 307 times for 1,200 yards and 7 touchdowns on the ground while adding 74 receptions for 467 yards and 3 touchdowns in the passing game.
Harris appeared in all 17 games and may have broken a perception about 2
2022 Outlook
While he’s stated in interviews that his workload could be offset, there doesn’t appear to be any threat on the roster that could take playing time away from Harris.
Typically, NFL players take a second-year leap, as their rookie seasons are jampacked from the time they finish their college calendar and jump right into the NFL Combine and NFL Draft process.
With some offseason rest, an improved offensive line, and a year of experience under his belt, I would expect Harris to exceed his 2021 numbers and take his spot among the elite backs in the league.
Benny Snell
Snell enters the final year of his rookie contract having underwhelmed in his previous three seasons.
Some of the dismay is due to injuries that prevented him from being on the field, while others can be attributed to a general lack of Steelers offensive firepower overall – and poor offensive line play.
Snell was active for all 17 games last season, and 16 the year before, but he saw his totals dip from 108 and 111 carries, down to 36 in 2021. He failed to score a touchdown as well.
2022 Outlook
2022’s training camp is the make-or-break for Benny Snell Football.
I still believe that Snell can contribute to the team, but that also depends on whether or not the Steelers look elsewhere to upgrade.
Snell has carved out a niche on special teams, but his lack of usage in the backfield, behind Harris, has made him a liability who could be released.
Anthony McFarland Jr.
If Snell’s story is disappointing, McFarland’s is trending in a similar albeit worse direction.
Entering his third season, McFarland has a total of 36 carries in his career. The change of pace back only had three rushes for three yards in 2021. He was targeted a single time, gaining 11 yards.
2022 Outlook
Nothing is a given in the NFL, and the same could be said for McFarland’s tenure heading into camp.
Last season it appeared that Matt Canada’s new offense would deploy multiple back backfields, but an injury kept McFarland off of the field throughout portions of practice and the preseason. The concept never materialized.
Depending on how the team views Harris’ workload and Snell’s final year under contract, McFarland could be the odd man out as the team usually retains only three running backs on their active roster.
Derek Watt
The fullbacks get some love here too!
Watt enters 2022 as an enigma: the Steeler with the largest cap hit on the offensive side of the football.
It’s with good reason, as he earns his paycheck primarily as a special teams standout: Watt is the captain on that side of the ball.
2022 Outlook
I don’t see Watt’s usage going up much this season despite calls to see him get more action.
The NFL isn’t trending toward using more fullbacks, and Watt’s lone carry last season (for a yard) as well as three targets, doesn’t scream “more usage”.
His primary function, as has been previous Pittsburgh fullbacks, will be goal line and short-yardage packages. Otherwise, he’s simply listed as a fullback because they have to list him somewhere.
Connor Heyward
Cameron Heyward’s baby brother lands in Pittsburgh as a sixth-round draft selection out of Michigan State.
While like Watt, and technically not a running back or fullback, Heyward will cut his teeth as a hybrid or “H-back” style player the Steelers have used in the past. (Think Willie Johnson, David Johnson, or Jaylen Samuels.)
2022 Outlook
He’s versatile enough to lineup in the backfield or at tight end, but 2022 may be a sit-and-watch season for Heyward early on. I don’t see the Steelers having five players active on game days for their backfield unless Heyward stands out on special teams.
Best of the Rest
Another brother from a starting defensive player, Trey Edmunds continues to stick to the roster, usually bouncing back and forth between the practice squad.
He’s been utilized as a running back and fullback in the past and has an edge of being a five-year NFL veteran. Four of those past years were in Pittsburgh, but Edmunds hasn’t touched the ball in a regular-season game since 2019.
That potentially opens the door for two undrafted rookies: Duke’s Mataeo Durant and Oklahoma State’s Jaylen Warren.
Durant set Duke’s single-season rushing record last season with 1,241 yards, adding 11 rushing touchdowns. He’s topped over 2,500 run yards in his college career and over 3,000 all-purpose.
Warren played one season with Oklahoma State as a JUCO transfer via Utah State. He ran for a team-high 1,216 yards and 11 touchdowns while being voted team captain in 2021.
