Trey Edmunds is ready to break out.
Whether that happens in the Steelers' Week 9 matchup Sunday vs. the Colts at Heinz Field, of course, depends on quite a few factors. But let's make a list of what we do know right now:
- Benny Snell is out for "two to three weeks" after having a minor surgery to trim his meniscus following the Steelers' 27-14 Monday Night Football win over the Dolphins.
- James Conner has missed the entire week of practice after going down late in that same game with a shoulder/AC joint injury. He is "doubtful" per Friday's injury report.
- Mike Tomlin has said he's comfortable with Conner, a third-year player who has made 19 starts in his career, missing practice and still suiting up on game day, if need be.
- Jaylen Samuels, back from a knee scope, is 100 percent ready to roll.
- Edmunds is next.
And that's just it for Edmunds. In the NFL, sometimes players need that one opportunity. And with Conner doubtful and Snell officially out, Edmunds could get his.
But don't think he's approached this week any differently than the others. This is a job to him, and the preparation's remained mostly the same.
"I'm just going out there working, mentally preparing, physically preparing for another week in the NFL, honestly," Edmunds was telling me Friday at his locker inside the Rooney Complex. "I'm just going out there, giving my best, trying to get everything down in the classroom and just get ready."
Still, though, it appears only Samuels and Edmunds are in the fold for Sunday. The Steelers could activate Darrin Hall from the practice squad or they could give carries to either Roosevelt Nix or Ryan Switzer. Those are the options.
So Edmunds' chances are looking good — but don't tell him that.
"Honestly, I try to keep myself on a level surface, man," he said. "Not too high, not too low. Just with all that stuff going in, you just want to try to get everything down pat so you don't really have time to feel that. I'm just trying to get myself in the best position to go out there in case whatever happens, I'm ready for it."
In the meantime, Edmunds is soaking it all in and digesting everything in case his number gets called early and often against the Colts. This includes leaning on Conner and the rest of the running backs room.
"I think every guy in our room is special," Edmunds said. "Every guy has something different. We all bring something different to the table. And with those guys, having the game experience, they're telling me things I haven't seen for myself. Being another mentor, being another set of eyes, those guys have been a tremendous help."
To Samuels' credit in this equation, he has shown an ability to handle the classic "three-down back" workload. Last season against the Patriots, Samuels took over for an injured Conner and ran for 142 yards on 19 carries. That's encouraging for the Steelers should he need to step back into that role vs. the Colts.
"Well, he’s really unique as a pass catcher, a route runner," Steelers offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner was saying of Samuels this week at practice. "He’s nifty in a lot of ways. We know he can be capable of being that one back that can play all three downs. He’s done it before in big games. I think back to New England last year. I mean, he’s had plenty of those moments. So, I’m just excited to have him back."
Should Edmunds be asked to enter the mix and to complement Samuels, though, he feels his style will show out well for the fans who may be seeing him for the first time in the black and gold.
"Man, I think I got a mixture of a couple things," Edmunds said. "I definitely like the power style, but I do have speed too. I can kind of hit you both ways. But whatever position I'm in, I try to take full advantage of that and get whatever I can on each play."
Making the opportunity just a little sweeter for Edmunds is the fact he'd share it with his brother, Terrell Edmunds, on game day:
"Man, it's a huge blessing," Edmunds said of being in Pittsburgh with Terrell. "That's first and foremost. I just want to thank this organization for giving me the chance to come here, and not just come here but come here with my brother to play. We're blessed. We don't take [any] day for granted. Every day we wake up, man, we realize that it's not by chance. There's a purpose, and we're just here trying to, I guess, go out here and go hard and do what we gotta do, take care of our end of it."
The full Steelers injury report from Friday:
- Snell (knee) DNP, out
- Mark Barron, full participant
- Conner (shoulder) DNP, doubtful
- Samuels, full participant
- Nix (knee), limited participant, questionable
- Maurkice Pouncey (calf), full participant
- Ulysees Gilbert (back), full participant
- Ramon Foster (concussion) DNP, out
- Vance McDonald, full participant
- Daniel McCullers (ankle) full participant
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