Camp Position Preview: Running Back

This is the third in a series looking at the Steelers by position heading into their 2024 training camp at Saint Vincent College July 24. Today: running back

Players (8): Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, Cordarrelle Patterson, La’Mical Perine, Jonathan Ward, Daijun Edwards, Aaron Shampkin, Jack Colletto (FB)

If there’s a position on the Steelers’ roster that should be celebrating the team’s hiring of Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator, the running backs top that list.

In the five seasons in which Smith has been an offensive coordinator or head coach, his teams have finished in the top 10 four times, including three top-five finishes.

Given the Steelers have had one of the most successful running back duos in the league the past two seasons, that should be a good pairing.

Najee Harris posted his third 1,000-yard season in as many years for the Steelers last season, finishing with 1,205 total yards from scrimmage. Warren, meanwhile, rushed for nearly 800 yards while putting up 1,154 scrimmage yards.

In today’s NFL, having two capable runners is almost a must. And the Steelers most certainly do.

“Najee and Jaylen have had a lot of success in this league,” Smith said. “You break it down, give or take a 17-game season, you hope to have 1100-plus plays, and if you’re balanced on offense, give or take where your carries are at, nobody, even Derrick Henry, we didn’t ask him to carry the ball 550 times. So there’s plenty of carries to go around, whether that’s traditionally or non-traditionally. But (have been) been really excited to get the work of both those guys.

That work will continue as the Steelers head into training camp at Saint Vincent College. And working out how to mix Harris and Warren into the new offense will be one of the big tasks.