The Pittsburgh Steelers have been attached to a few different players around the league with the NFL's trade deadline approaching on Tuesday, November 10th. The Steelers have been connected with a few different wide receivers, which has been the case around the trade deadline for the last several seasons. Injuries have the room pretty thin, and it would be understandable if the team went out and got a receiver that could start and contribute immediately. The passing game has left a lot to be desired for the Steelers, while the running game has been the complete opposite as Pittsburgh has had one of the best rushing attacks in the league.
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Steelers running back Jaylen Warren celebrates big play during a regular season game against the Browns in November 2026.
Jaylen Warren is having the best season of his career, and he has been one of the best backs in the NFL. Over the last two games, Rico Dowdle has also been contributing in a meaningful way after fully recovering from his toe injury. There is no doubt that the running game has been the best part of the Steelers through the first eight games of the year, and it is a big reason the team is 6-2 and in first place in the AFC North. Former NFL player Dorin Dickerson suggested the Steelers still go try and find a veteran running back at the trade deadline. His argument was that this is the best part of the team, and the Steelers should protect themselves from losing it due to injury.
There are some running backs around the NFL that could be available at the deadline. ESPN's Ben Solak recently threw some trade ideas into an article, and he mentioned the Arizona Cardinals' running back room.
"The Cardinals should trade someone off their roster, as Bam Knight, Tyler Allgeier and the soon-to-be-healthy James Conner all don't need to split time while rookie Jeremiyah Love gets healthy," Solak wrote.
The Cardinals have a crowded running back room, and James Conner is expected to be healthy soon. He could be dealt, as long as he is activated from Injured Reserve (IR) before the trade deadline. He spent the first half of the season recovering from an ankle injury that he suffered during the 2025 season.
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Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) practices during a walkthrough in training camp at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, on July 25, 2026.
The Cardinals drafted running back Jeremiyah Love with the third overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, so he is going to get involved in the offense even though he is dealing with an injury. Veteran back Tyler Allgeier has been a great addition for the Cardinals and he is coming off of his best game of the season as he ran for 147 yards and a score on just 11 carries. He also caught five passes for 44 yards. Bam Knight has also been a valuable piece of the backfield in Arizona as he has tallied over 160 rushing yards on the season while averaging six yards an attempt.
The production of the two other veteran running backs on this roster might give Arizona a reason to move on from Conner, who has been a franchise cornerstone since signing there following the 2020 season.
Steelers Fans Would Love To See Conner Return To Pittsburgh
Conner has a ton of history in Pittsburgh. He was a great back for the Steelers from 2017 through 2020, and he also played his college ball for the Pitt Panthers. He was a fan favorite in Pittsburgh as he racked up over 2,300 yards and 22 touchdowns on the ground for the Steelers while also contributing nearly 1,000 receiving yards and four touchdowns through the air. He filled in admirably after the dramatic contract saga with Le'Veon Bell, and he also had a heartwarming story behind him as he fought Hodgkin's lymphoma while in college.
It would be awesome to see Conner in the black and gold again, and it seems like a realistic possibility that the Steelers could pry him away from Arizona.
What do you think about the Steelers potentially pursuing Conner? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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