Steelers Fans Get Unexpected News About Future Plans For The Running Back Room

The Pittsburgh Steelers have made a lot of changes on the offensive side of the ball this offseason. Both quarterbacks that started games for the Steelers during the 2024 campaign are now with teams in New York (Russell Wilson and Justin Fields), while former starting running back Najee Harris has moved on to the Los Angeles Chargers. Top wide receiver George Pickens was also traded away, while star wide receiver DK Metcalf was brought in. 

The 2025 season is for sure going to be a season of change for the Steelers, but one thing is expected to remain, and that is running back and returner Cordarrelle Patterson. 

The Steelers signed Patterson during the 2024 offseason after he spent a good chunk of time with the Atlanta Falcons. He was used as the third running back on the depth chart and as a returner for kickoffs. Ahead of the season, it was thought that Patterson would thrive with the new dynamic kickoff rules, but that was not the case. Pittsburgh was actually the worst team in the league when it came to returning kicks, and Patterson's lack of effectiveness on offense made it seem like he would be released after the season. 

To many fans' surprise, Patterson is still on the roster, and team insider Ray Fittipaldo was asked about the likelihood of him being on the 53-man roster in 2025.

"Perhaps, but usually with the Steelers if they don't view a player as part of their plans, they'll cut ties with him in March, so he has a chance to hook on with another team," Fittipaldo wrote. "They kept Patterson. Why? Not sure, but I think Arthur Smith likes him. And perhaps the ankle injury was part of the reason for his poor play in the final few months of the season."

Patterson is still on the roster, and it seems like the organization is past the point of releasing him. For as ineffective as he was during the 2024 season, it is shocking to imagine he is still in consideration for the 53-man roster in 2025. The veteran played in 13 games for Pittsburgh in 2024 and he recorded just over 130 rushing yards, 80 receiving yards, and one total touchdown.

Pittsburgh signed Patterson to a two-year deal worth $6 million during the 2024 offseason. He carries a cap hit of $3.75 million for the 2025 season, and the organization could release him with a dead cap charge of just $950,000. This would save the Steelers just under $3 million for the 2025 season, which is money that could be spent to solidify other areas of the roster. In addition, Pittsburgh might not need any help at running back. The franchise signed Kenneth Gainwell and drafted Kaleb Johnson.

Patterson also has some things working in his advantage in Pittsburgh. He is close with Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith, who was his head coach with the Falcons. That relationship was a big reason Patterson signed in Pittsburgh initially, so it wouldn't be a surprise to find out that Smith is lobbying to keep Patterson on the roster going into 2025.

Steelers' Cordarrelle Patterson Has A Chance To Improve In 2025

Patterson suffered an ankle injury during a Week 4 contest in the 2024 season, and the running back missed the next four weeks due to the injury. He never seemed the same after returning from the injury, as he looked less explosive and he lacked burst. This could explain his lack of production later in the season, and it could be why he is still on the roster today. The organization might know that Patterson was fighting to play later on in the year, and he will come back being 100 percent in 2025.

The running back also had the best years of his career while playing for Smith in Atlanta, and Pittsburgh could be looking to recapture some of that magic between Patterson and Smith.

What do you think about Patterson being on the roster again in 2025? Let us know in the comments below!

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