On Friday, August 21, 2026, Rico Dowdle was seen dressed in a uniform throughout the Steelers' preseason action. RotoWire and the Fantasy Footballers Podcast noted his involvement alongside teammate Jaylen Warren.
At the same time, several Steelers rookies missed the game due to injuries, prior to the team's second 2026 preseason game.
In related news, a discussion between Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy and a reporter from Steelers Depot labelled Dowdle as the team's 'workhorse back'.