Pittsburgh Steelers DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Philadelphia Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell took four carries for 23 yards and was the first back on the field with the second-string unit against the Baltimore Ravens Friday night. Rookie Will Shipley soon came in to take over for the 25-year-old but was not nearly as efficient on his seven carries. Shipley was able to find the end zone at the end of the first quarter, catching a seven-yard pass from quarterback Kenny Pickett. Gainwell seems to have the inside track on the No. 2 job behind Saquon Barkley, but Shipley is proving that he can carve out his own role in the passing game and has been paired with Gainwell for kickoff returns.

The Pittsburgh Steelers activated running back/wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson (undisclosed) from the Non-Football Injury list on Friday after he passed a physical. Patterson will now be able to join the rest of his teammates in practice at training camp. The 33-year-old followed Arthur Smith from Atlanta to Pittsburgh and will most likely serve as the team's kick returner on special teams. The former 29th overall pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2013 out of Tennessee produced a career-high 695 rushing yards and eight touchdowns for the Falcons in 2022 but fell back to Earth big time in 2023, seeing 50 carries for only 181 yards. In Pittsburgh's backfield, he's third on the depth chart behind Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren and will most likely be used sparingly as more of a gadget player when he's not returning kicks.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Mason Rudolph has looked very comfortable and has been remarkably accurate as he battles Malik Willis for the No. 2 QB role behind Will Levis in training camp this summer. Willis has improved and looks more comfortable than he's ever been, but Rudolph hasn't left a crack in the door for Willis to pass him. As of right now, Rudolph looks poised to win the backup role in Tennessee. Unofficially, Rudolph has an 84.2% completion rate during camp practices with just one interception. In his NFL career in 21 games (13 starts) with the Steelers from 2018-2023, Rudolph has completed 291 of 458 passes for 3,085 yards, 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. The 29-year-old signal-caller was mostly just a game manager when forced into a starting role in Pittsburgh, although he could have more upside in what is expected to become a pass-happy offense in Tennessee if Levis misses time with injury in 2024.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson (ankle) is no longer in a walking boot after being carted off the field nearly a week ago. Even better, he isn't favoring his ankle while walking. The rookie was taken in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft after finishing his final collegiate season by amassing 789 yards and 12 touchdowns off 48 receptions. Hopefully, he'll be back on the field soon. While the injury could delay Wilson's progression, he has a chance to eventually overtake others on the depth chart and emerge as one of the team's top wideouts, giving him long-term appeal for dynasty participants.

Houston Texans wide receiver Ben Skowronek has stood out so far in the early portions of training camp as he looks to earn a roster spot despite mostly working with the second-team offense. Skowronek is a long shot to have a substantial role in his first year in Houston if he even makes the team, but the 6-foot-3, 224-pounder has so far impressed on contested catches down the field. If the 27-year-old is competing with the likes of Noah Brown, Robert Woods and John Metchie III in a crowded receiving corps behind starters Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins and Tank Dell. The former seventh-rounder in 2021 has 58 total receptions for 575 yards and just one touchdown in 45 regular-season games (12 starts) in his three years in the NFL and isn't on the fantasy radar heading into the 2024 season.