Steelers Steal Intriguing Running Back From Falcons; Elevate Breiden Fehoko To 53 Man Roster

This comes just in time for the upcoming Week 3 contest against the Las Vegas Raiders. Fehoko was signed this offseason after spending the first three seasons of his NFL career with the Los Angeles Chargers. Ultimately, he was the odd man out in the Steelers' defensive line unit that is filled with depth. Larry Ogunjobi has been dealing with an injury as well, and while he played in Week 2, it's smart for the Steelers to bolster some extra depth along the line.

Additionally, things don't get much easier in Week 3, as they will face running back Josh Jacobs, who led the NFL in rushing yards in 2022. While the Raiders star has struggled in the first two weeks, the talent is still there. Fehoko isn't exactly a presence in the pass rushing department, as he is more known for being a run stopper. For Pittsburgh's sake, hopefully he helps clog up some lanes moving forward.

Ahead of the victory over the Browns, the Steelers placed running back Anthony McFarland Jr. on the IR. With their third-string running back out for the foreseeable future, a move had to be made. Mike Garafolo of NFL Network has reported that Pittsburgh has signed Godwin Igwebuike off the Atlanta Falcons practice squad. Igwebuike originally made the NFC South squad's 53-man roster to begin the season, but was waived after Week 1. 

With a loaded running back room in Atlanta, he landed back on the team's practice squad. Now, the Steelers have scooped him up, and this could prove to be a decent find. He had a very impressive summer, which led into the preseason. Against the Miami Dolphins in the preseason, Igwebuike had 13 carries for a game-high 70 rushing yards and a touchdown.

That performance helped jolt him onto the team's initial 53-man roster. Unfortunately, with Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren locked in as the top-two guys, he may not see much playing time for Pittsburgh. If he can impress in limited snaps though, perhaps the Steelers consider keeping him long-term over McFarland. In a realistic outlook though, it seems like this is just a temporary resolution to the injury to McFarland.

Have Steelers Found Their New Kick Returner?

In his NFL career, Igwebuike has bounced around the league. This will be his sixth stop in the NFL since 2018, and he has just 21 career rushes. It should be noted that he has 39 career kick returns, averaging 25.8 yards per return in those opportunities. McFarland was the team's primary kick returner, so it's possible that Igwebuike picks up that role as well.