2 Steelers first-stringers in danger of losing starting jobs ahead of 2026 NFL season

The Pittsburgh Steelers need to make their best shot at a Super Bowl run during the 2026 season. QB Aaron Rodgers plans to retire after the season, meaning it’s now or never for this version of the Steelers. Fortunately, the roster is stacked with talent and Pittsburgh looks ready to compete in a wide open AFC North division.

Pittsburgh’s front office deserves credit for adding competition at almost every position this offseason. The Steelers have multiple training camp battles to watch this summer, which shows just how deep the roster really is.

Will those training camp battles lead to any changes in the starting lineup?

Two Steelers starters should be worried about a decreased role ahead of the 2026 NFL season.

Jaylen Warren could lose touches to Rico Dowdle this season

Pittsburgh’s running back position may not be a settled as it looks on paper.

The Steelers named Jaylen Warren as their starting running back on their initial depth chart. That is not the least bit surprising, as he is the incumbent to the job. Beyond that, Warren has been nothing but impressive during his four seasons in Pittsburgh.

So what’s there to worry about?

Pittsburgh brought in veteran Rico Dowdle during NFL free agency after his breakout campaign in Carolina. Dowdle replicated the success he had in Dallas, logging 236 carries for 1,076 rushing yards and six touchdowns. It is honestly shocking how close his production was to his 2024 season with the Cowboys.

Regardless, the point is that Dowdle has proven he’s a capable runner over the past two seasons. He’s gone over 1,000 rushing yards twice, whereas Warren has never accomplish the same feat. That is more of a compliment to Dowdle than a critique of Warren.

Still, Warren cannot get too comfortable with Dowdle sitting just below him on the depth chart.

Realistically, the Steelers will deploy a committee approach at running back with both Warren and Dowdle involved. Warren has third-down duties completely locked up. But the Steelers could easily prefer to deploy Dowdle on early downs instead of Warren.

Steelers fans should keep an eye on how Pittsburgh deploys their running backs throughout the rest of training camp. This will be especially important closer to the regular season as the depth chart gets more settled.

Ultimately, Warren is going to be involved in Pittsburgh’s offense this fall. But the real question is how much of his workload with Dowdle consume?

Can Max Iheanachor, Broderick Jones supplant Dylan Cook at right tackle?

Pittsburgh starting spot at right tackle also looks completely wide open, even with training camp well underway.

One reason for the uncertainty is because the Steelers have rotated Troy Fautanu this offseason. Fautanu, the former 2024 first-round pick, played at right tackle during the 2025 season. However, the Steelers decided to move him over to the left side during OTAs back in May. Fautanu played left tackle during his collegiate career, so the switch is a positive development for him.

That move leaves the right tackle position undecided for the moment. But Pittsburgh seems to have two players competing for the role.

Dylan Cook is currently listed as Pittsburgh’s starter at the position. The 28-year-old tackle out of Montana State got his first taste of NFL action in 2025. He stepped in at left tackle to replace Andrus Peat after suffering a concussion against the Ravens. Cook finished the season at left tackle, playing in five games and starting four of them.

Pittsburgh’s coaching staff is now quite different, so that late-season push doesn’t guarantee him the job. But it certainly puts him in the conversation.

Meanwhile, the Steelers drafted Max Iheanachor in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Iheanachor is an incredible physical specimen who the Steelers clearly liked enough to invest a first-round pick in. He has a lot of potential, but only worked with the second-team offense during OTAs.

Iheanachor is dealing with an upper-body injury that kept him out of practice on Monday. That is certainly concerning, as Iheanachor needs all the reps he can get to compete for a starting job.

In his absence, veteran Broderick Jones (who has his own concerning injury history) stepped up during Monday’s practice.

If either Jones or Iheanachor can stay healthy, they could present a big challenge to Cook. But at the moment, Cook seems to have the starting job in hand.

Steelers fans need to keep an eye on this situation throughout the rest of the summer.

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