Rico Dowdle is questionable for Sunday against New Orleans with a knee injury. Pittsburgh did not practice Friday because of the weather; Dowdle’s limited participation was an estimate.

Related Players: Jaylen Warren, Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, Germie Bernard, Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington

If Dowdle misses, Warren would have a clearer path to additional carries and receiving work, strengthening his RB1 case against New Orleans. Dowdle would be a riskier FLEX if active without clarity on his workload.

Dowdle has been ruled out for Thursday night’s game against Cleveland due to a toe injury.

This will be his second consecutive absence after he suffered the injury during Pittsburgh’s Week 2 loss to New England.

Related Players: Jaylen Warren, Eli Heidenreich, Travis Homer, Lew Nichols

Warren should remain the clear centerpiece of Pittsburgh’s backfield after handling a heavy workload during Dowdle’s first absence. He enters Thursday night as a strong RB2 with three-down involvement, while Homer and rookie Eli Heidenreich provide depth without standalone fantasy value. Pittsburgh could also elevate Lew Nichols from the practice squad, as they did in Week 3.

Steelers ruled out RB Rico Dowdle for Sunday’s game vs. the Bengals due to his toe injury.

RB Jaylen Warren is questionable for Sunday due to his shoulder injury.

Related Players: Eli Heidenreich

Warren is boosted all the way up to the RB1/2 fringe, as a very good bet to handle a vast majority of touches on an offense that wants to keep the ball around the line of scrimmage.

Some other notes from the open period to media:

- WR Michael Pittman Jr. continued to work today. He is battling a foot injury but was participating.

- Spencer Anderson still has the big wrap on his lower right leg.

- Rico Dowdle did not participate but was out of his boot. Jaylen Warren was participating.

- Joey Porter Jr. continues his work. Jamel Dean and Jalen Ramsey returned to practice after missing yesterday.

Related Players: DK Metcalf, Roman Wilson, Germie Bernard, Ben Skowronek, Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington

Pittman is moving in the right direction, although his official Thursday participation level and Friday status will determine whether he is a viable Week 3 option. A full practice would put him on track to play; another limited session would leave him as a risky flex. Wilson and Bernard would lose some opportunity if Pittman returns.

Steelers RB Rico Dowdle (toe) checked out relatively OK following tests. He's considered to be day-to-day.

Related players: Jaylen Warren, Eli Heidenreich

Dowdle was carted to the locker room on Sunday. It's been a slow start for him, and he's mostly splitting time with Warren, although Warren has out-touched him the first two weeks. Dowdle has been involved in the passing game with two catches each of the first two weeks, putting him at least in the flex conversation for fantasy lineups. If Dowdle can't go, the rookie Heidenreich could be more involved with the majority of the work likely going to Warren.

The Pittsburgh Steelers side-stepped a major loss with a key piece of their offense for their Week 15 primetime matchup against the Miami Dolphins.

Running back Jaylen Warren (illness) will be active, meaning he won't miss his second game of the season.

Related players: Kenneth Gainwell

Warren popped up on the injury report earlier today with an illness, which was kind of late in the game. Warren was taking fluids and is good to go tonight. He'll come with a bit of a risk depending on what he's dealing with, but Gainwell will likely have his usual workload regardless.

The Steelers have added RB Jaylen Warren to the injury report as questionable (illness) for tonight’s game with Miami.

Related players: Kenneth Gainwell

The Steelers are optimistic Warren will be able to play through the illness tonight against the Dolphins, but this is pretty late in the game to get added to the report, so there must be at least some concern on the side of the Steelers. Owners will want to track this right up to gametime if they are counting on Warren this week. Should Warren be out, Gainwell likely gets a bulk of the workload, and may get an uptick even if Warren is active tonight.

The team is optimistic Jaylen Warren will play on Sunday against the Bears.

Related players: Kaleb Johnson, Kenneth Gainwell

HC Mike Tomlin said Warren will be limited early in the week. In a news item Monday, Warren said he likely could have come back into Week 11's game, so it all adds up to what is hopefully Warren ready to go against the Bears. It's an earlier Sunday game, so owners will know well in advance as far as their lineup goes. Gainwell would likely be the main back with Johnson getting some work should Warren be unable to go.

Jaylen Warren on his ankle injury:

“I could have (returned), but it was part of being smart. We got a lot of games ahead of us, so they’re looking out for me.”

Related players: Kenneth Gainwell, Kaleb Johnson

It's good news for Warren and his fantasy owners. And, it gives him a shot to play in Week 12's game at the Bears. Injury reports later this week will be key, and the game is an early Sunday contest so owners should have plenty of time to adjust either way. Gainwell should get the bulk of the work if Warren ends up not playing and the rookie Johnson will get some touches well.

"Arrow pointed up" for CB Joey Porter Jr. (hamstring), OLB Alex Highsmith (ankle) and RB Jaylen Warren (knee).

Related players: Kenneth Gainwell

Warren looks like he's good to go for Week 6 and will likely still give away some touches to Gainwell, who filled in nicely two weeks ago when the team played overseas.