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Cordarrelle Patterson provided a major update on his situation with the Steelers on Monday.
With training camps around the NFL in full swing, teams are beginning to get a clearer picture of who could make the eventual 53-man roster. For a club like the Pittsburgh Steelers, certain position groups contain plenty of competition and depth.
The running back spot is certainly one of them, and one veteran seems to be on his way out. Per a July 28 tweet on his X account, halfback Cordarrelle Patterson is being released.
He posted the news on Monday morning, referring to himself as “old washed up Cordarrelle Patterson.”
Cordarrelle Patterson Era in Pittsburgh Ends in Dramatic Fashion
In a response to his tweet, user HowardsBurgh replied “took long enough.” In reply, Patterson posted “Right! I said the same [expletive]!”
This marks the (assumed) end of a confusing stretch for Patterson with the Steelers. The 34-year-old didn’t practice during the first span of training camp in Latrobe, PA.
Prior to last season, Patterson signed a two-year deal worth $6 million. The contract contained $1.9M in guaranteed money. Given his $2.8M base salary for the upcoming campaign, the combination of value and opportunity didn’t seem to line up for the team. According to Over the Cap, Patterson could be cut for that full base in cap savings while incurring just $950,000 in dead money.
Playing in 13 regular-season games last year, Patterson toted the ball 32 times for 135 yards – a 4.2 yard-per-carry average. He also hauled in 12 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown. The former wide receiver transitioned to more of a running back role with the Atlanta Falcons and found success in 2021 and 2022. That didn’t translate to year one with the Steelers.
Given his lack of explosiveness on offense and some regression in the return game, Patterson simply didn’t offer the Steelers much. He also struggled to stay healthy in 2024, nursing an injury during the summer and getting hurt during the regular season. Considering the cap ramifications of parting ways with him, this transaction makes sense.
Assessing Steelers’ Running Back Depth Beyond Patterson
It’s safe to say the Steelers won’t necessarily need Patterson given their current backfield picture. Even in the post-Najee Harris era, this remains an intriguing group. At the top, Jaylen Warren is looking to establish himself as a featured back in the offense. With a solid combination of youth (26 years old), fresh legs (fewer than 350 career carries) and opportunity, he has the inside edge for the Steelers’ primary halfback role.
Rookie Kaleb Johnson shouldn’t be overlooked, though. Johnson is an exciting pure rusher who went over the 1,500 yard mark during his final collegiate season at Iowa. Things like receiving chops and pass protection will determine how many carries he gets right out of the gate.
Veterans Kenneth Gainwell and Trey Sermon were also tracking to rank ahead of Patterson. Gainwell played in all 17 regular-season games a season ago and averaged 4.5 yards per touch on the Philadelphia Eagles. Sermon was also active in every Indianapolis Colts contest and accounted for 258 yards from scrimmage with a pair of touchdowns. Simply put, there wasn’t a lot of room for another offensive weapon at the position.
Consequently, a puzzling time for Patterson comes to an end with the Steelers moving on.
Jordan Foote is a seasoned sports writer who covers the NFL for Heavy.com with an emphasis on the Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers. He has years of experience publishing NFL and MLB content for Sports Illustrated’s On SI vertical, in addition to a background in NBA coverage for multiple outlets. Foote is a Baker University alumnus, earning his degree in Mass Media. He’s based in Kansas City. More about Jordan Foote
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