Thanks to Jaylen Warren's scorching hot start to the season, the Pittsburgh Steelers may be able to field a few trade calls for running back Rico Dowdle.
Dowdle, a two-time 1,000-yard rusher, is capable of serving as premium depth or starting in nearly any offense. He's set to return from injury any week now, and may be extremely appealing to a running back-needy team looking to make the playoffs in 2026.
From a team with an injury ridden running back room to an AFC South squad coming off their first win of the season, here's a look at three NFL landing spots that could entertain a trade for Dowdle.
Philadelphia Eagles
Let's get this one out of the way first: the Eagles' running back room is in shambles. RB1 Saquon Barkley went down with a hamstring injury, RB2 Tank
Bigsby was placed on injured reserve with a core muscle setback, and RB3 Will Shipley suffered a foot injury and will miss multiple weeks, leaving Philadelphia down to RB4 Dameon Pierce. The Steelers would be wise to give the Eagles a call about any interest in Dowdle, as the move could work out well for both sides.
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings' top two running backs, Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason, have major durability concerns. Jones, while currently healthy, has dealt with a multitude of soft-tissue injuries and knee setbacks during his career. Mason is expected to return in Week 7 after being placed on injured reserve for a fractured thumb. At 5-0, the Vikings can't afford to lose one of their top guys on the cusp of what could be a franchise-defining season. Dowdle would come in right away and compete for snaps with both Jones and Mason, while also giving Minnesota arguably the best RB depth in the league.
Houston Texans
The Texans already showed with the Marvin Harrison Jr. pickup that they weren't afraid of making huge trades with a 1-4 record, and Dowdle would be a solid acquisition to make next. David Montgomery suffered a groin injury and is considered week-to-week. The next man up is Woody Marks, but Houston's run game has been nonexistent to this point. In the short term, Dowdle would help a Texans offense attempting an improbable comeback, while also potentially providing a spark in the rushing attack that simply hasn't existed with Montgomery and Marks in the backfield.
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This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: 3 NFL teams that could trade for Steelers RB Rico Dowdle
